U.S. patent number 4,686,587 [Application Number 06/564,191] was granted by the patent office on 1987-08-11 for record and/or playback device with cue signal indication and access.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Dictaphone Corporation. Invention is credited to John J. Dwyer, Betsy Hipp, Jeremy Saltzman.
United States Patent |
4,686,587 |
Hipp , et al. |
August 11, 1987 |
Record and/or playback device with cue signal indication and
access
Abstract
A record and/or playback device whose operating mode is
controlled by processor apparatus which is responsive to the
selected operation of various operating control switches. The
processor apparatus includes a sensor for sensing when the device
is in an inactive mode, such as a "stop" mode, a timer for
determining when the device has remained in this inactive mode for
a predetermined time, and means responsive to the timer for
disposing the device in a dormant condition in which it does not
respond to the operation of the operating control switches.
Furthermore, the processor apparatus comprises a microprocessor
which includes a counter that is incremented when the record medium
of the device is moved, and a memory for storing respective counts
corresponding to locations of the record medium at which "cue"
signals are recorded. When the record medium is moved, as during
fast-forward and rewind operations, the changing count of the
counter is compared to the counts stored in the memory and, when
this comparison is positive, the movement of the record medium is
interrupted. Stored counts are deleted when information is recorded
over a cue signal; and additional counts are inserted into the
memory when additional cue signals are inserted onto the
medium.
Inventors: |
Hipp; Betsy (Orange, CT),
Saltzman; Jeremy (Norwalk, CT), Dwyer; John J.
(Stratford, CT) |
Assignee: |
Dictaphone Corporation (Rye,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
24253509 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/564,191 |
Filed: |
December 21, 1983 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
360/74.2; 360/13;
360/69; 360/72.1; 360/74.4; 369/27.01; 369/28.01; G9B/15.002;
G9B/15.004; G9B/15.021; G9B/19; G9B/27.017; G9B/27.02;
G9B/27.051 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B
15/02 (20130101); G11B 15/026 (20130101); G11B
15/18 (20130101); G11B 27/10 (20130101); G11B
27/107 (20130101); G11B 27/34 (20130101); G11B
19/00 (20130101); G11B 2220/90 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G11B
27/10 (20060101); G11B 15/02 (20060101); G11B
15/18 (20060101); G11B 27/34 (20060101); G11B
19/00 (20060101); G11B 015/54 (); G11B
015/52 () |
Field of
Search: |
;360/66,72.1-72.3,69,73,74.1,74.2,74.4,13,71,137,14.1 ;369/25,27-29
;364/2MSFile,9MSFile |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2106696 |
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Apr 1983 |
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GB |
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2107506 |
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Apr 1983 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Psitos; Aristotelis M.
Assistant Examiner: Garland; Steven R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Curtis, Morris & Safford
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a record/playback device for recording information on and
playing information back from a movable record medium, counting
means responsive to signals produced when said record medium moves
to provide a count representing the relative position of said
record medium; cue switch means selectively operable to generate a
cue indication; cue memory means having plural storage locations
for storing in the next available one of said storage locations the
count provided by said counting means at the time that said cue
indication is generated; means for bidirectionally moving said
record medium; means for comparing the count provided by said
counting means to the counts stored in said cue memory means; means
for stopping said record medium when said count provided by said
counting means is substantially equal to a count stored in a
storage location; and processor apparatus operable in accordance
with a cyclical programmed set of instruments including a routine
for sensing when said cue switch means is operated, presetting a
cue timer when the operation of said cue switch means is sensed,
incrementing said cue timer, and loading the count provided by said
counting means into said next available storage location when said
cue timer is incremented to a predetermined value, said processor
apparatus also including means for producing signals as said record
medium moves.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said cue switch means is
selectively operable to generate a "letter" cue indication upon a
single operation thereof and to generate an "instruction" cue
indication upon repeated operation thereof prior to the time that
said cue timer is incremented to said predetermined value; and
wherein said routine further operates to set a "letter" cue flag
when an initial operation of said cue switch is sensed, to sense if
said cue switch is operated a second time before said cue timer is
incremented to said predetermined value, and to set an
"instruction" cue flag when said cue switch is operated said second
time.
3. The invention of claim 2 further including means for generating
a warning tone including a tone timer that is incremented
periodically and that is reset when at least one of said cue flags
is set, and a tone signal generator that is energized when said
tone timer is reset and is de-energized when said tone timer is
incremented to a pre-established value.
4. The invention of claim 1, wherein said processor apparatus is
operable in accordance with a cyclical programmed set of
instructions including a routine for sensing when said record
medium is reversed, detecting when information is recorded over a
location on said record medium at which a cue indication was
previously generated, and shifting at least a portion of the
contents of said cue memory means in response to the detection of
said information being recorded over said location to delete from
said memory means the count that was provided at the time that said
cue indication was previously generated, thereby to make available
another storage location of said cue memory means.
5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the counts provided by said
counting means are stored in successive storage locations of said
cue memory means; and further including cue counting means for
counting each generated cue indication; and cue memory address
means for addressing the next successive storage location of said
cue memory means when a cue indication is generated to enable the
count provided by said counting means to be stored in said
addressed storage location, said cue memory address means and said
cue counting means normally being incremented in synchronism; and
wherein said routine is operative to decrement the cue memory
address when said record medium is reversed and the count of said
counting means corresponds to a count stored in said cue memory
means.
6. The invention of claim 5 further comprising means for initiating
a recording operation to record information on said record medium;
and wherein said routine is operative to detect when information is
recorded over a location on said record medium at which a cue
indication was previously generated by detecting during a recording
operation the correspondence of the count of said counting means
with a count stored in said cue memory means.
7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said routine is operative to
shift at least a portion of the contents of said cue memory means
by determining a non-correspondence between the count of said cue
counting means and said cue memory address; and shifting the counts
stored in those storage locations which exceed said cue memory
address from their present respective locations to the next lower
location in said cue memory means.
8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said processor apparatus is
operable in accordance with a cyclical programmed set of
instructions including a routine for sensing when said record
medium is reversed, detecting when an additional cue indication is
generated at a location of said record medium intermediate two
locations at which cue indications were previously generated,
shifting into different storage locations of said cue memory means
those stored counts that exceed the count now provided by said
counting means when said additional cue indication is generated,
and inserting said count now provided by said counting means into a
storage location vacated by a shifted count.
9. The invention of claim 8 wherein the counts provided by said
counting means are stored in successive addressable locations of
said cue memory means; and further including cue counting means for
counting each generated cue indication, and cue memory address
means for addressing the next successive locations of said cue
memory means when a cue indication is generated, said cue memory
address means and said cue counting means normally being
incremented in synchronism; and wherein said routine is operative
to decrement the cue memory address each time that the count of
said counting means corresponds to a count stored in said cue
memory means while said record medium is reversed, to determine a
non-correspondence between the count of said cue counting means and
the address provided by said cue memory address means when said
additional cue indication is generated, and to shift the counts
stored at locations having higher addresses than the address
provided by said cue memory address means in response to said
determination.
10. The invention of claim 1 wherein said device includes means
operative when said record medium is removed therefrom for clearing
the counts stored in said cue memory means.
11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said device further includes
erase means for erasing the information recorded on said record
medium and for concurrently clearing the counts stored in said cue
memory means.
12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said means for
bidirectionally moving said record medium includes a "rewind"
element manually operable to cause said record medium to move in
the reverse direction and a "forward" element manually operable to
cause said record medium to move in the forward direction, and said
erase means includes a manually operable "erase" element; and
wherein said processor apparatus is operable in accordance with a
cyclical programmed set of instructions including a routine for
sensing the concurrent operation of said "rewind" and "erase"
elements and for clearing a count stored in a storage location of
said cue memory means when the count provided by said counting
means is substantially equal to said stored count.
13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said routine is further
operative to set an "erase" flag when the concurrent operation of
said "rewind" and "erase" elements is sensed and to prevent
interruption of the movement of said record medium when said count
provided by said counting means is substantially equal to a stored
count if said "erase" flag is set.
14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said "erase" flag remains set
even when said "rewind" and "erase" elements are released; and
wherein said instructions further include a routine for sensing the
operation of said "rewind" element, setting a "rewind" flag when
said "rewind" element is operated, resetting said "rewind" flag
when said "rewind" element is released, and preventing said
"rewind" flag from being reset when said "erase" flag is set; and
wherein said record medium is caused to move in the reverse
direction when said "rewind" flag is set,.
15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said device further includes
a "stop" element manually operable to stop the movement of said
record medium; and wherein the last-mentioned routine is operative
to sense the operation of said "stop" element and to reset said
"erase" flag in response thereto.
16. The invention of claim 11 wherein said means for
bidirectionally moving said record medium includes a "rewind"
element manually operable to cause said record medium to move in
the reverse direction and a "forward" element manually operable to
cause said record medium to move in the forward direction; and
wherein said processor apparatus is operable in accordance with a
cyclical programmed set of instructions including a routine that is
executed in response to the operation of either said "rewind"
element or said "forward" element and operates to reset a timer
when said count provided by said counting means is substantially
equal to a count stored in a storage location and to stop the
movement of said record medium, to increment said timer
periodically, to sense when said timer has been incremented to a
predetermined value, and to resume movement of said record medium
if said "rewind" element or said "forward" element remains
operated.
17. The invention of claim 16 wherein said record medium is a
magnetic tape extending between supply and take-up reels and
wherein said means for bidirectionally moving said record medium
further includes means for driving said supply reel at a relatively
rapid rate in response to the operation of said "rewind" element,
means for driving said take-up reel at a relatively rapid rate in
response to the operation of said "forward" element, a capstan, and
a pinch roller selectively engageable with said capstan to move
said magnetic tape for the recording and playing back of
information thereon, said pinch roller being mounted on a
selectively actuable movable member; and wherein the last-mentioned
routine is further operative when said "rewind" or "forward"
element is operated to sense if said pinch roller is engaged with
said capstan and, if so, to actuate said movable member until said
pinch roller is sensed as being disengaged from said capstan.
18. The invention claim 17 further comprising a selectively
energizable motor for driving said capstan and said supply and
take-up reels; and wherein said last-mentioned routine is
additionally operative when said "rewind" or "forward" element is
operated to de-energize said motor if said pinch roller is sensed
as being engaged with said capstan and to energize said motor for
operation at a relatively high speed when said pinch roller is
sensed as being disengaged from said capstan.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a record and/or playback device and, more
particularly, to such a device having processor apparatus, such is
a programmed microprocessor, which functions to control the
operating modes and conditions of the device. The invention also
relates to such a device that is porthole and is energized by mean
of an electrical storage battery.
Recording/playbadk devices, such as dictating machines, recently
have been introduced with microprocessor devices to control various
machine functions in place of the "hardware" implementations that
had been used previously. One example of such a recording/playback
device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,397, assigned to the
assignee of the present invention. As described therein, the
microprocessor is provided with a programmed set of instructions
through which it cycles repeatedly, and during such cycles the
operation of various ones of the usual manual controls is sensed.
Moreover, the microprocessor functions to implement corresponding
machine operations, as commanded by the operation of such controls.
Thus, the microprocessor serves to control the usual "record",
"play back", "rewind" and "fast-forward" operations.
When the recording/playback device is used as a dictation machine,
as described in the aforementioned patent, certain other controls
which generally are helpful to dictation operations also are
implemented by the microprocessor. For example, when dictating a
letter, the location on the record medium of the end of that letter
generally is represented by recording a so-called "letter" cue
signal. When the dictated information subsequently is transcribed,
the record medium is scanned prior to the transcription operation;
and during such scanning, the relative locations of the "letter"
cue signals are detected and a suitable display is energized so as
to provide the transcriptionist with information regarding the
relative locations and lengths of dictated letters. Similarly, when
the dictator wishes to dictate special instructions, he may operate
a suitable control so as to record so-called "instruction" cue
signals on the record medium. These too are sensed during the
scanning of the record medium prior to transcription thereof, and
the aforementioned display is energized to provide the
transcriptionist with additional information as to the relative
locations of such "instructions".
Typically, portable battery-operated recording devices are provided
with various mechanically linked elements which, generally, are
manually operated to effect various operations. For example, in a
so-called cassette-recorder wherein the record medium is magnetic
tape extending between supply and take-up reels housed within a
cassette, a single motor generally is used in combination with a
transmission for driving the magnetic tape in the forward direction
at a normal speed for recording or playing back information, and
also for driving that tape at high speed in the reverse direction
to effect a rewind operation or at high speed in the forward
direction to effect a fast-forward operation. In capstan-driven
cassettes, this same motor generally is used to drive a capstan,
and a pinch roller is mounted on a movable device for selectively
engaging the capstan with the tape therebetween, thus driving the
tape for recording or playing back information. A record/playback
head also is mounted on this movable device for contacting the
magnetic tape so as to record or play back information thereon.
Usually, the movable device is coupled to a mechanical linkage
which, under user control, drives the pinch roller and head into or
out of contact with the tape. By interlinking this linkage with the
usual "record", "rewind", "play", "fast-forward" and "stop"
controls, the magnetic tape is suitably transported in the desired
direction at the desired speed, and the head is appropriately
positioned when necessary to record or play back information on the
tape.
It has been traditional to provide the aforementioned mechanical
linkages and controls (usually push-button controls) in such
portable record/playback devices. These devices, although
relatively small and portable, have been of sufficient size to
accommodate such mechanical linkages and controls. Recently,
however, an extremely small thumb-sized magnetic tape cassette has
been proposed. Such a cassette is described in copending
applications Ser. Nos. 388,539 and 388,540, both filed June 15,
1982, now U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,476,510 and 4,443,827, respectively. It
is believed that this tape cassette is far smaller than cassettes
which have been used heretofore. Consistent with the small size of
the cassette, record/playback devices may be miniaturized such that
they themselves are far smaller than recorders which now are
commercially available. With such miniaturization, however, there
is a substantial reduction in the amount of available space for
providing the traditional mechanically-linked manual controls.
Moreover, even if mechanical implementation of such controls is
desired, the manufacturing and assemblying of suitable miniature
mechanical elements would be quite expensive and time
consuming.
Because of the aforementioned difficulty in manufacturing suitable
mechanically-implemented miniature record/playback devices, it is
advantageous to substitute electronic implementation for
traditional mechanical elements. For example, the mechanically
movable device upon which the pinch roller and head have been
mounted may be replaced by a miniature motor-driven actuator that
is electronically controlled. One example of such an electronically
controlled actuator is described in copending application Ser. No.
434,249, filed Oct. 14, 1982 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,821. This
actuator is of extremely small size, is relatively simple and,
thus, is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. Moreover, the
electronic controls therefor enable accurate control of the
actuator in the absence of complex, bulky mechanical elements.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide
electronic controls for a record/playback device, whereby such
controls replace mechanical implementations which heretofore have
been used.
Another object of this invention is to provide electronic controls
for a superminiature record/playback device, such controls being in
the form of a suitably programmed microprocessor.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a
record/playback device having operating control switches to command
various active and inactive operating modes, and processor
apparatus which is responsive to such switches for controlling the
overall operation of the device.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a device of
the aforementioned type wherein the processor apparatus is a
programmed microprocessor; and wherein the device is energized by
an electrical storage battery.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device of the
aforementioned type wherein the microprocessor senses the presence
of the inactive mode for a predetermined time and then disposes the
device in a dormant condition that is nonresponsive to the
operation of the operating control switches.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a device of
the aforementioned type having a cue control, and wherein the
microprocessor includes a counter for providing a count
representing the relative location of the record medium used with
the device and a memory for storing respective counts which are
present at the times that the cue control is operated.
Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the
aforementioned type wherein, during certain operations, such as
rewind and fast-forward operations, the microprocessor compares the
count of the counter to the counts stored in the memory to
interrupt movement of the record medium when a positive comparison
is reached.
Various other objects, advantages and features of the present
invetnion will become readily apparent from the ensuing detailed
description, and the novel features will be particularly pointed
out in the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, a record/playback device having
manual controls for disposing the device in selected active modes,
such as "record", "play", "fast forward" and "rewind" modes, and
for disposing the device in an inactive mode includes processor
apparatus which is responsive to the selected operation of the
manual controls for controlling the device operating mode. In one
aspect of the invention, the processor apparatus includes a sensor
for sensing when the device is in its inactive mode and a timer for
determining when the device has remained in the inactive mode for a
predetermined time. The processor apparatus also includes means
responsive to the timer for disposing the device in a dormant
condition in which it does not respond to the operation of the
manual controls.
In accordance with one advantageous feature of the present
invention, the device, as well as the processor apparatus, is
energized by an electrical storage battery. The processor apparatus
is operable in accordance with a programmed set of instructions
which includes a routine for sensing when the energy level of the
storage battery falls below a threshold level; and if the device is
disposed in an active mode, it is changed over therefrom to the
dormant condition. This prevents depletion of the battery while the
device is in its active mode which, otherwise, might result in
failure to complete a desired operation.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the
record/playback device is provided with a cue switch that is
selectively operable by the user to generate a cue indication. As
the record medium is advanced, such as during a recording
operation, a counter included in the microprocessor is incremented
in synchronism with such movement so as to provide a count
corresponding to the changing position of the record medium. When
the user operates the cue switch, the count then present in the
counter is stored in a memory. Such stored counts thus represent
the locations of "letter" or "instruction" cues identifying the
locations of letters (or other segments of recorded information) or
special instructions. The user may access such letters or
instructions rapidly by operating a "rewind" or "fast forward"
control on the device so as to drive the record medium rapidly in
the reverse or forward directions. As the record medium is driven,
the counter is incremented (or decremented) accordingly; and when
the count therein corresponds to a count stored in the memory, as
when the record medium reaches the location of the "letter" or
"instruction", movement of the record medium is interrupted.
It is a feature of this aspect of the invention to provide
microprocessor control over the generation of "letter" and
"instruction" cue indications and to provide the user with suitable
warning tones representing the recording thereof. Such
microprocessor control includes the additional feature of
responding to the operation of an "erase" control, such as when the
device is disposed in its rewind operation, to clear a count stored
in the memory when the counter is incremented (or decremented) to
that count.
Another feature of this aspect of the invention is to insert into
an appropriate location of the memory a count representing a
"letter" or "instruction" cue indication that is inserted at a
location of the record medium intermediate two previously located
letter or instruction cue indications, without loss of those
previous indications. An additional feature of this aspect of the
invention is to delete from the memory a count representing a
previous letter or instruction cue indication when new information
is recorded on the record medium over that previous indication.
Yet another aspect of this invention is to provide a magnetic tape
device having "rewind", "fast forward" and "stop" controls, and
additionally having a "record" control if the device is a voice
recorder or a "play" control if the device merely is a playback
device; the device further including a microprocessor which is
programmed to control substantially all of the functions carried
out by the device. The microprocessor is programmed to sense which
control is operated and then to dispose the device in the mode of
the operation which is commanded by that control. The program takes
into account various "latched" functions, wherein continuous
operation of the control is not needed to maintain the operating
mode of the device, as well as "momentary" functions, wherein the
operating mode is terminated upon release of the control.
In accordance with one feature of this aspect, the microprocessor
is programmed to impart a suitable delay in changing over the
operating mode of the device in the event that this is accompanied
by a change over in the direction in which the magnetic tape is
driven, thus preventing damage to the tape drive mechanism or to
the tape that otherwise would be caused by abrupt reversal of tape
movement and also obtaining better control over the tape position
counter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following detailed description, given by way of example and not
intended to limit the invention solely to the illustrated
embodiments, should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a front view of one
embodiment of the record/playback device in which the present
invention may be used; and
FIGS. 2-11 are flow charts corresponding to the programmed set of
instructions that are used by processor apparatus in accordance
with the present invention to control the record/playback device
shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention, now to be described, is particularly adapted
for use in a portable, battery-operated dictate device. However, as
will be apparent, this invention is equally applicable to a sound
recorder that may be used for other applications and need not be
limited solely for use as a dictate machine. Also, and as will be
apparent, the present invention may be used to control the
functions of a playback device which operates merely to reproduce
pre-recorded information. Still further, the record/playback device
described herein preferably is used with a miniature, thumb-sized,
capstan-driven magnetic tape cassette, such as the tape cassette
described in aforementioned copending applications Ser. Nos.
388,539 and 388,540. However, it should be readily appreciated
that, if desired, the record/playback device described herein need
not be limited solely for use with magnetic tape cassettes but,
rather, may be used with other record media, such as small,
flexible magnetic discs which may be rotatably driven and may be
selectively engaged by a magnetic head that is moved in the forward
and reverse directions. Also, the record medium may comprise a
bubble-memory device wherein forward and reverse "movements" are
simulated by forward and reverse shifting of "bubbles" which, as is
known, represent information.
The Record/Playback Device
For convenience, the record/playback device is described herein in
the context of a portable, battery-operated dictate machine. As
shown in FIG. 1, device 10 is provided with a plurality of manually
operable controls, plural displays, a microphone 12 (illustrated,
as an example, at the upper right-hand corner of the device) and a
speaker 52. In one embodiment, the manually operable controls
comprise movable tactile push-button elements, each being
selectively operable to control or initiate a corresponding
function. Alternatively, these controls may be formed as
touch-sensitive switches adapted to produce signals representing
the actuation thereof when touched by the user of the device. In
either embodiment, a respective signal is produced in response to
the operation of a corresponding control element, and this signal
is produced for so long as that element is operated. Upon release
of the element, the signal terminates. Suitable push-buttons,
switches and the like for providing these functions are
conventional and are well known.
The displays, identified as displays 40, preferably are formed as
LCD display devices which, as is conventional, require relatively
little electrical energy to provide suitable indications; and,
thus, advantageously impose little drain on the electrical storage
battery which is used to energize device 10. Alternatively, other
low-power, low-current display devices may be used to implement
display 40.
Although not shown in FIG. 1, it will be appreciated that, in the
embodiment described herein, device 10 is operable with a removable
record medium. As mentioned above, this record medium preferably
comprises a miniature, thumb-sized tape cassette. On the reverse,
or backside of device 10 (not shown) there is provided a door to a
cassette-receiving compartment in which the cassette is contained
for operation. A suitable switch (also not shown) may be coupled to
this door or may be contacted by a cassette loaded into the
cassette compartment so as to produce a suitable signal when the
cassette is removed. As will be described below, this switch
functions to sense the ejection of the cassette and is referred to
sometimes herein as an "eject" button.
The manual controls provided with record/playback device 10 include
a conference record button, or switch, 22, a momentary record
button, or switch, 24, a stop button, or switch, 26, a rewind/play
button, or switch, 28, a cue/erase button, or switch, 30, a
reset/mode button, or switch, 32, a fast forward button, or switch,
34 and a keyboard enable button, or switch, 36. For convenience,
these elements are referred to merely as buttons. In addition, a
volume adjustment control knob 38, such as a potentiometer, also is
provided.
Conference record button 22 and momentary record button 24 are
manually operable to dispose record/playback device 10 in the
so-called "conference record" and "momentary record" modes of
operation, respectively. When disposed in the conference record
mode, the gain in the recording electronics is increased such that
device 10 can be used to record a "conference" among individuals
who are disposed at some distance from microphone 12. In the
momentary record mode, the gain of the recording electronics is
reduced, thus making the pick-up sensitivity of the device less
sensitive. In the momentary record mode, it is expected that the
user will hold device 10 in close proximity to his mouth. With
reduced pick-up sensitivity, ambient noises will not be recorded
and, thus, such noises will not interfere with the user's
dictation. Furthermore, the operation of record button 24
establishes the momentary record mode for so long as this button is
operated. Upon release of the record button, the mode of device 10
is changed over to an inactive, or stop, mode. However, when
conference record button 22 is operated, the conference record mode
is established, and this mode remains "latched" even when the
conference record button is released.
Rewind/play button 28 is adapted, when operated, to dispose device
10 in a rewind mode, whereby the magnetic tape is driven in the
reverse direction at a relatively high rate of speed. Upon release
of button 28, the direction in which the tape is driven is
reversed, and the rate at which the tape now is moved in the
forward direction is reduced to the speed at which information can
be played back. It is appreciated that this speed is equal to the
speed at which the tape is driven when either conference record
button 22 or momentary record button 24 is operated. Stop button
26, when operated, functions to change over device 10 from an
active mode (e.g. record, play, etc.) to the inactive, or stop
mode. It is appreciated that, in this inactive or stop mode, the
tape is maintained stationary.
Cue/erase button 30 is adapted, when operated momentarily, to
record a "cue" signal on the magnetic tape and, additionally, to
provide a cue indication which represents the location along the
tape at which the cue signal is recorded. As will be described
below, this cue indication enables the user to rapidly move the
tape in either the rewind or fast forward modes to the location at
which that cue signal is recorded. Preferably, cue indications
representing "letter" and "instruction" cues, respectively, may be
recorded by selectively operating the cue button. For example, the
"letter" cue indication is provided, and a corresponding "letter"
cue signal is recorded, upon a single momentary operation of cue
button 30. However, upon a repeated momentary operation thereof
within a predetermined time period, for example, if the cue button
is operated twice within a period of 1 second, an "instruction" cue
is indicated and recorded.
As will be described below, display 40 includes a plural-digit
(e.g. a 3-digit) numerical display 42 which functions as a tape
counter to provide a numerical indication of the amount of tape
which has been transported. Reset/mode button 32 is adapted, when
operated or pushed for a prolonged period of time, to reset
numerical display 42. When the reset/mode button is operated
momentarily, the information displayed by numerical display 42 is
changed over, or toggled, to display the number of "letter" cue
signals that have been recorded, and/or the number of the
particular letter which is being played back. Also, if device 10 is
in its fast forward or rewind mode, numerical display 42 displays
the number of the "instruction" cue signal that is detected.
Fast forward button 34, when operated, functions to dispose device
10 in its fast forward mode in which the magnetic tape is
transported at a relatively rapid speed in the forward direction.
In this mode, when the tape has been transported to a location at
which a cue indication had been recorded, the tape transport
provided in device 10 is temporarily interrupted so as to "pause"
at that location. Hence, the tape may be rapidly transported to the
location of a "letter" or an "instruction". Similarly, the tape may
be rapidly transported in the reverse direction to a "letter" or
"instruction" upon the operation of rewind/play button 28. That is,
when device 10 is disposed in the rewind mode of operation, the
tape is rapidly rewound until the location at which a cue
indication had been recorded is reached, whereupon the tape
transport "pauses" thereat.
Enable button 36, sometimes referred to herein as a keyboard enable
button, functions in a manner analogous to a POWER ON switch.
Device 10 is provided with a programmed microprocessor which is
responsive to the selective actuation of the illustrated control
buttons to control the operation of the device. The manner in which
this microprocessor operates will be described in greater detail
below. When not in use, device 10 and the microprocessor therein
are disposed in a dormant, or non-operating condition. When the
device is to be operated by the user, enable button 36 is operated
so as to change over the device from its dormant condition to an
inactive mode, thus awaiting subsequent actuation of a control
button. As will be described below, when device 10 is disposed in
its inactive mode, which corresponds to a "stop" mode, both the
device and the microprocessor will change over to the dormant
condition automatically if no active mode is initiated within a
predetermined time period. Stated otherwise, when the device is
disposed in its stop mode, it will revert to its dormant condition
unless conference record button 22, momentary record button 24,
rewind/play button 28 or fast forward button 34 is operated within
the aforementioned time period. The operation of enable button 36
will bring the microprocessor out of the dormant condition.
As mentioned above, display 40 is provided with a plural-digit
numerical display 42. As one example thereof, numerical display 42
may be comprised of a 3-digit display, each digit being represented
by a 7-segment LCD element or other low-power numerical display
device. This numerical display is adapted to be incremented and
decremented as the tape is driven so as to provide a numerical
indication of the amount of tape which has been transported.
Display 40 also is provided with an index display 44, a
"record/play" indicator 46, and a "letter/instruction" indicator
48. Index display 44 is comprised of a plurality of individual
elements or segments, such as LCD segments, which are adapted to be
selectively energized to provide an indication of the approximate
quantity of tape which has been transported. As an example, if
index display 44 is formed of ten segments, each segment may
represent approximately 10% of the overall length of tape; and as
successive tape is transported in the forward direction, additional
ones of segments 44 are energized. The index display is seen to be
similar to a "bar graph" wherein the number of segments which are
energized corresponds to the effective length of the "graph" to
indicate the amount of tape which has been transported. Thus,
numerical display 42 provides a relatively accurate indication of
the location of the tape; and index display 44 provides a rough
indication of the amount of tape which has been transported. In one
embodiment, the segments which comprise the index display are
selectively energized to provide a left-to-right shifting effect
when device 10 is disposed in the fast forward mode; and these
segments are energized to provide a right-to-left shifting effect
when the device is disposed in its rewind mode.
"Record/play" indicator 46 is adapted to be energized to display
REC when device 10 is disposed in its record mode and to display
PLAY when the device is disposed in its playback mode. This
provides the user with an indication of the particular mode of
operation in which the device is disposed. "Letter/instruction"
indicator 48 is adapted to display LTR when a letter cue signal is
recorded and to display INS when an instruction cue signal is
recorded. Also, upon the momentary operation of reset/mode button
32, the indication LTR is displayed together with a numerical
indication by display 42 to indicate the number of the particular
letter then juxtaposed the record/playback head of device 10.
Additionally, if the aforementioned display mode had been selected,
when the record medium with which device 10 is used is rewound or
advanced rapidly to a previously recorded instruction cue signal,
the indication INS and the number of that instruction cue signal
are displayed.
In the preferred embodiment, the record medium which is used with
device 10 is a capstan-driven cassette having a magnetic tape which
extends between supply and take-up reels. A single, bi-directional
two-speed motor is provided to drive the capstan and, also, to
drive supply and take-up reel spindles, respectively. A relatively
simple transmission, such as a belt-drive, is used to couple the
motor to the capstan and also to the supply and take-up reel
spindles. Preferably, suitable clutches are provided in the
spindles to permit the tape to be bi-directionally driven between
the reels.
A pinch roller is mounted on a movable device, referred to herein
as an actuator, in a manner similar to that described in
aforementioned, copending application Ser. No. 434,249, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,547,821. During record and play modes of operation, the
actuator is energized such that the pinch roller fully engages the
capstan, thereby "pinching" the tape therebetween. The capstan is
driven by energizing the motor in the forward direction, thereby
transporting the tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel. A
suitable record/playback head also is mounted on the actuator so as
to be in good magnetic contact with the tape when the pinch roller
is engaged. Consequently, information may be recorded on or played
back from the tape by this head.
In the rewind and fast forward modes, the pinch roller is
disengaged from the capstan by suitably energizing the actuator.
This also withdraws the magnetic head from good contact with the
tape. When the motor then is energized in the fast reverse
direction, the tape is rewound from the take-up reel to the supply
reel. Conversely, when the motor is energized in the fast forward
direction, the tape is rapidly advanced from the supply reel to the
take-up reel. Preferably, although the head is withdrawn from the
tape, it still remains in sufficiently close contact so as to
reproduce unintelligible sounds, simulating "monkey chatter" when
the tape is driven. This apprises the operator of the rewind or
fast forward modes of operation. For purposes of the present
description, the position of the actuator during the rewind and
fast forward modes is referred to as the "partially engaged"
position, whereby the pinch roller is separated from the capstan
and the head is "partially engaged" with the tape. In this partial
engagement, the tape is free to be transported rapidly past the
capstan; yet the head is sufficiently close to the tape so as to
pick up the aforementioned unintelligible sounds but distinguish
"pauses" between audio segments. Finally, when device 10 is
disposed in the inactive, or stop mode, the actuator is energized
so as to disengage fully both the pinch roller and head from the
capstan and tape, respectively. It is this fully disengaged
position that is assumed when device 10 is changed over to the
aforementioned dormant condition.
As will be described below, the microprocessor is programmed to
impart a suitable delay in changing over the energization of the
motor between forward and reverse drives, such as when the device
is changed over from its play mode to its rewind mode. This delay
prevents a sudden reversal in the direction in which the tape is
driven and, thus, prevents the tape drive mechanism and the tape
from being damaged by such a sudden reversal, and also prevents
errors in calculating the correct position of the tape.
The Overall Program
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a flow chart of the
overall program for the microprocessor included in recorder 10. It
will be appreciated that the term microprocessor is intended to
refer to a digital central processor which operates in accordance
with a cyclical programmed set of instructions and, in conjunction
with various peripheral devices comprise a microcomputer. In
accordance with the present invention, the central processor may
include a conventional microprocessor, such as a National
Semiconductor Model COPS 444C, a Hitachi Model LCD-3, or the like.
The overall program described herein is represented in the form of
flow charts which may be implemented by any of the foregoing
microprocessors.
The overall program includes, broadly, a power-up routine that is
carried out when device 10 is brought out of its dormant condition,
as when enable button 36 (FIG. 1) is operated, and a main loop
which is executed when the device is changed over from its dormant
routine. The main loop includes various update routines, the
relevant ones of which are described in greater detail below.
Included in these update routines are a tone and timer update
routine and a tape counter update routine. When carrying out the
tone and timer update routine, various timers are incremented in
response to the clock circuit of the microprocessor.
The tone and timer update routine functions to control the
generation of warning tone signals upon the occurrence of certain
predetermined events. For example, when certain cue signals are
generated, the tone routine initiates the generation of a
corresponding warning tone such that the user of device 10 is
apprised of the generation of the cue signal. Also, when the
magnetic tape with which device 10 is used is advanced to an end
zone region thereof, an appropriate warning tone is generated to
apprise the user that only a relatively small quantity of tape
remains available for further recording. In addition, when the tape
has been fully advanced such that the end of tape has been reached,
a suitable warning tone is generated. Still further, when device 10
is operated in a mode whereby previously recorded information is
erased from the magnetic tape, suitable warning tones are generated
during this erase process.
After the tone and timer update routines are carried out, the
microprocessor carries out its tape counter update routine. The
purpose of this routine is to update various tape counters which
are used to indicate the amount of tape which has been transported
and, additionally, to indicate the present position of the
tape.
After carrying out the update routines, the microprocessor advances
to inquire whether device 10 (also referred to in these flow charts
as the "machine") is disposed in its stop mode. As will be
described, this inquiry is determined by sensing which, if any, of
the control buttons is operated; and if it is determined that the
device is not disposed in its stop mode, then the routine commanded
by the operated control button is carried out prior to cycling
through the main loop once again. For example, the momentary record
routine is executed if record button 24 is operated; the conference
record routine is carried out if conference button 22 had been
operated; the rewind routine is carried out if rewind/play button
28 is operated; the play routine is carried out if the rewind/play
button had been operated and then released; and the fast forward
routine is carried out if fast forward button 34 is operated. If
none of these control buttons is operated, or if stop button 26 is
operated, the inquiry as to whether the device is disposed in its
stop mode is answered in the affirmative, and the stop routine is
carried out. This routine is described in greater detail
hereinbelow with respect to the flow chart shown in FIG. 7A. As
part of the stop routine, inquiry is made as to whether device 10
has remained in the stop mode for a predetermined time (e.g. five
minutes). If so, the device promptly assumes its dormant (or
"halt") condition. But, if the device has not remained in the stop
mode for this predetermined time, inquiry next is made as to
whether the actuator on which the pinch roller and record/playback
head are supported, has failed in not returning to its fully
disengaged position. If so, a suitable indication thereof is
provided and the device then assumes its dormant condition.
However, if the actuator has not failed, the microprocessor cycles
through the main loop once again.
Main Loop
In the flow chart illustrated in FIG. 3, the main loop commences
with update routines for the various timers, for tone generation
and for the tape counter. The tone and timer update routine is
described below with respect to the flow chart shown in FIG. 4; and
the tape counter update routine is described with respect to the
flow chart of FIG. 5. After these update routines are carried out,
a reset button routine is executed. This routine detects whether
reset/mode button 32 is operated and, if so, whether display 40 is
in its "tape count" mode, whereby numerical display 42 displays a
count representing the present position of the record medium, or if
the display is in its "cue" mode, whereby the numerical display
displays the number of the particular letter now juxtaposed the
record/playback head or the number of the particular instruction to
which the record medium has been rewound or advanced. After
carrying out the reset button routine, a display routine is
executed, by which the appropriate information is displayed on
display 40, e.g. whether a tape count or letter count or
instruction count is displayed. The reset button and display
routines are described more particularly in copending application
Ser. No. 564,480. After carrying out these routines, the main loop
advances to the input routine.
The input routine is described with respect to FIG. 6. In this
routine, the operation of a control button is sensed; and various
flags are set or reset for use in establishing the commanded mode
of operation of device 10. Hence, the input routine may be thought
of as preconditioning the microprocessor for the subsequent
execution of a suitable active (or inactive) routine.
After carrying out the input routine, the main loop inquires as to
whether the energy level of the battery is below a threshold level.
If this battery check inquiry results in an affirmative answer, a
low battery flag is set, an in stop flag is set and a disengage
pinch roller immediately flag is set, all in preparation for
changing over the device to its stop mode and thence to its dormant
condition. The low battery flag, if set, is used in the display
routine to effect a suitable display of a low battery condition
(e.g. by "flashing" whatever is displayed on display 40). After
these flags are set, suitable output signals are supplied to the
capstan motor, the actuator motor and a warning tone generator. As
illustrated in FIG. 3, these output signals also are provided in
the event that the battery check inquiry results in a negative
answer.
The signal supplied to the capstan motor is an energizing signal to
turn this motor ON or OFF and, when turning the capstan motor ON,
the type of energization. That is, the capstan may be turned ON to
drive the tape in the normal forward direction for recording or
playback, or the motor may be energized for fast forward operation
or for rewind operation. Likewise, the signal supplied to the
actuator motor may turn this motor ON or OFF. When turned ON, the
actuator is driven in the manner described in aforementioned
copending application Ser. No. 434,249, now U.S. Pat. No.
4,547,821. The pinch roller and head thus are brought to their
engaged positions, or to their partially engaged positions, or to
their disengaged positions, depending upon when this actuator motor
is turned OFF. Finally, the signal supplied to the warning tone
generator is adapted to turn the generator ON or OFF. A warning
tone is generated when the generator is turned ON. As will be
described below, the signal supplied to the warning tone generator
is controlled by the tone update routine.
After supplying suitable signals to the capstan motor, the actuator
motor and the warning tone generator, the main loop advances to
inquire as to whether the in stop flag is set. This flag is set if
the energy level of the battery has been detected as being low, as
mentioned above, and also is set if, during the input routine, stop
button 26 is sensed as being operated, or none of the control
buttons is sensed as being operated and no flag which represents an
active mode is set. When this in stop flag is set, the
microprocessor jumps to the stop routine, described below with
respect to FIG. 7A. However, if the in stop flag is not set, the
main loop proceeds to reset the disengage pinch roller immediately
flag. This flag is set whenever the actuator is to be driven to
re-position the pinch roller, as when the stop button is operated,
or the battery level is detected as being low, or two operating
buttons are operated concurrently.
After resetting the disengage pinch roller immediately flag,
inquiry is made as to whether the end-of-tape (EOT) flag is set. If
the tape has been advanced or rewound to the end or beginning
thereof, respectively, this EOT flag will be set. If so, inquiry is
made as to whether the count of the tone counter differs from zero.
This tone counter determines the number of warning tone pulses that
are to be generated, and the tone counter is decremented from
various preset counts in accordance with the type of warning tone
that is to be produced. If this tone count differs from zero, the
microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main loop and the
routine thus far described is repeated. However, if the tone count
is equal to zero, inquiry next is made as to whether device 10 is
disposed in its conference, play or erase modes. If not, the
microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main loop. However,
if the EOT flag has been set and if the tone count is equal to zero
and if the device is disposed in its conference, play or erase
modes, the in stop flag is set to enable the microprocessor to
enter its stop routine; and the microprocessor then returns to the
beginning of its main loop.
If, however, the EOT flag is not set, inquiry is made as to whether
momentary record button 24 is operated. If so, the microprocessor
advances to the momentary record routine, described in FIGS. 8A, 8B
and 8C, and when this routine is completed, the microprocessor
returns to the beginning of the main loop.
If the momentary record button is not being operated by the user,
inquiry is made as to whether the conference record flag is set.
This flag will be set when the user operates conference record
button 22, and will remain set even when this button is released.
If the conference record flag is set, the microprocessor jumps to
the conference record routine, described below with respect to
FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C, and when this routine is completed, the
microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main loop.
If the conference record flag is not set, inquiry is made as to
whether the erase flag is set. As will be described below with
respect to the input routine shown in FIG. 6, the erase flag is set
when rewind/play button 28 and cue/erase button 30 both are
operated concurrently. In the present embodiment, these are the
only two buttons that, when operated concurrently, do not change
over the device to its inactive, or stop, mode. If the erase flag
is set, the microprocessor jumps to the rewind routine and, when
this routine is completed, the microprocessor returns to the
beginning of the main loop. However, if the erase flag is not set,
the playback electronics are set, or enabled. This is represented
in the flow chart of FIG. 3 by selecting the playback mode. One of
ordinary skill in the art will recognize that this permits a single
head to play back prerecorded information (when the play mode is
selected) or to record information (when the record mode is
selected). Then, after selecting the play mode, inquiry is made as
to whether rewind/play button 28 is operated. If so, the
microprocessor jumps to the rewind routine. If not, inquiry is made
as to whether the in play flag is set. As will be described, the in
play flag is set during the input routine when the rewind button is
sensed as being operated but the cue/erase button is sensed as
being not operated. If the in play flag is set, the microprocessor
jumps to the play routine, described below with respect to FIG. 10.
After this routine is completed, the microprocessor returns to the
beginning of the main loop. However, if the in play flag is not
set, the microprocessor jumps to the fast forward routine,
described with respect to FIG. 11; and when this routine is
completed, the microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main
loop. Thus, in accordance with the hierarchy represented by the
flow chart of FIG. 3, if the in stop flag is not set, the fast
forward routine is carried out by a process of elimination if no
other control button is operated and if no other active mode flag
is set.
The microprocessor recycles through the main loop, with controlled
jumps to the stop, momentary record, conference record, rewind,
play or fast forward routines, periodically. Although the
particular routine to which the microprocessor jumps is determined
by the selected operation of the control buttons, it is seen from
the illustrated flow chart that the tone and timer update routines
as well as the tape counter update routine, and also the input
routine, are carried out during each cycle through the main loop
regardless of the operated control button. Reference now is made to
the tone and timer update routine which is functionally represented
by the flow chart of FIG. 4.
Tone and Timer Update Routine
In the tone and timer update routine, inquiry is first made as to
whether a timer has overflowed. For convenience, this timer is
referred to as the "primary" timer and is adapted to be driven by
the usual clock circuit for the microprocessor. When a
predetermined number of clock pulses is received, the primary timer
overflows and is reset to, for example, a zero count. It is
appreciated that the time duration required for this primary timer
to overflow is substantially constant and, for the purpose of a
numerical example, may be on the order of about 16 msec. When this
timer overflows, various display timers are updated, and additional
timers are incremented. These timers merely may be comprised of
counters, and each such counter is incremented upon the overflow of
the primary timer. For the purpose of the present description, when
the primary timer overflows, each of additional timers such as a
tone timer, a cue timer, a change direction timer, an erase timer,
a pause timer, a stop timer, an end zone timer and an EOT timer is
incremented. During certain routines, respective ones of these
timers are reset. The use of such timers will be described below in
conjunction with various ones of these routines.
After the aforementioned timers are incremented or, in the
alternative, if the primary timer has not overflowed, inquiry is
made as to whether a tone flag is set. As will be described, this
flag is set when a warning tone is to be generated. If this tone
flag is not set, inquiry is made as to whether the count of the
tone counter is equal to zero. This is the same tone counter about
whose count inquiry was made in the main loop. In response to
certain conditions, as when the end of tape is sensed, or when a
particular cue signal is generated, the count of the tone counter
will be other than zero. In most other instances, however, the
count of this tone counter is equal to zero. If the tone count is
sensed as being zero, the microprocessor advances to the tape
counter update routine. However, if the tone counter is sensed as
being other than zero, inquiry next is made as to whether the tone
timer (which, as mentioned above, is incremented during this
routine) has a count which is equal to or greater than a count
corresponding to 0.5 seconds. From the foregoing numerical example
wherein the tone timer is incremented approximately once every 16
msec., a count of 32 is approximately equal to 0.5 seconds. If the
count of the tone timer is less than 0.5 seconds, the tape counter
update routine next is carried out. However, if the count of the
tone timer is equal to or greater than 0.5 seconds, the tone timer
is reset, the tone flag is set and the count of the tone counter is
decremented. Then, the microprocessor advances to carry out the
tape counter update routine. When the tone flag is set, the tone
generator is controlled to generate the warning tone.
Returning to the inquiry of whether the tone flag is set, if so,
inquiry is made as to whether the count of the tone timer is equal
to or greater than one second. If not, the tape counter update
routine is executed. However, if the count of the tone timer is
equal to or greater than one second, the tone timer is reset and
the tone flag (which had been set in order to arrive at this point)
is reset. Then, the microprocessor advances to carry out the tape
counter update routine.
Tape Counter Update Routine
After the tone and timer update routine is carried out, as
described above, the microprocessor advances to execute the tape
counter update routine, diagrammatically represented by the flow
chart shown in FIG. 5A. The purpose of this routine is to sense
when tape is moved and the direction in which movement is effected.
Preferably, a so-called chopper wheel is mechanically coupled to
the supply reel drive spindle so as to generate pulses at a rate
corresponding to the rotary speed of the supply reel. Chopper
wheels of various constructions are known to produce voltage
transitions as the reel rotates. For convenience, a voltage
transition from a relatively higher voltage level to a lower level
is referred to herein as a transition from a binary "1" level to a
binary "0" level (a 1/0 transition), and a voltage transition from
a relatively lower voltage level to a relatively higher level is
referred to as a binary "0" to binary "1" transition (a 0/1
transition).
Preferably, the chopper wheel is mechanically coupled to the supply
reel drive spindle. Hence, as tape continues to be wound upon the
take-up reel, the supply reel rotates at a faster speed because of
reduced tape diameter. Consequently, the chopper pulses likewise
exhibit a higher repetition rate. Alternatively, if the chopper
wheel is mechanically coupled to the take-up reel drive spindle,
the repetition rate of the chopper pulses decreases as more tape is
wound upon the take-up reel. The tape counter update routine
increments or decrements a tape counter, thus generating
information as to the relative location of the tape along its
length.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the tape counter update routine commences by
sensing whether a 1/0 chopper pulse transition is present. If not,
inquiry is made as to whether a 0/1 transition is present. In the
absence of a chopper pulse transition, inquiry is made as to
whether an end-of-tape (EOT) flag is set. If it is, the
microprocessor now returns to the main loop to continue with the
main loop routine following the update routines. However, if the
EOT flag is not set, inquiry is made as to whether the capstan
motor is operating. If not, the EOT timer, which is incremented
during the tone and timer update routine, is reset; and the
microprocessor then returns to the main loop. But, if the capstan
motor is on, inquiry is made as to whether the count of the EOT
timer is equal to or greater than 3.5 seconds. If the count of the
EOT timer is less than this quantity, the microprocessor returns to
the main loop. But, if the count of the EOT timer is equal to or
greater than 3.5 seconds, the capstan motor is turned off, the EOT
flag is set and the tone counter is set to a predetermined count,
for example, a count of ten. Then, the microprocessor returns to
the main loop. It will be seen that the end of tape (EOT) is sensed
when no chopper pulse transitions are produced while the count of
the EOT timer is incremented to a count equivalent to 3.5 seconds.
It will further be seen that the EOT timer is permitted to be
incremented during active modes, that is, when the capstan motor is
energized to drive the tape. However, when the capstan motor is
turned off, the EOT timer is reset during each cycle through the
tape counter update routine.
Let it be assumed that a 1/0 chopper pulse transition is sensed: A
bar graph display routine, described in copending application Ser.
No. 564,480 first is carried out to update index display 44 (FIG.
1), and then inquiry is made as to whether a reverse flag is set.
As will be described below, the reverse flag is set when, for
example, rewind/play button 28 is operated to rewind the tape. If
this flag is not set, a BCD tape counter is incremented. Then, a
binary tape counter is incremented. Although two different tape
counters are employed in one embodiment of this invention, it will
be appreciated that, if desired, only a single tape counter may be
used.
If a 1/0 chopper pulse transition is not present but a 0/1
transition is, inquiry is made as to whether the reverse flag is
set. If not, the binary tape counter is incremented. It is seen,
from the flow chart shown in FIG. 5A, that the binary tape counter
is incremented in response to each chopper pulse transition; but
the BCD tape counter is incremented only in response to 1/0 chopper
pulse transitions. The binary tape counter thus is provided with a
count of higher resolution and more precision than the BCD tape
counter. Nevertheless, the count provided by the BCD tape counter
is sufficient to be displayed by numerical display 42 (FIG. 1) and
provide an indication of the present location of the tape.
Alternatively, the BCD tape counter can be omitted and the binary
tape counter used to control display 42. In addition to controlling
the numerical display, the count present in the tape counter,
preferably the binary tape counter, is used to indicate the
locations of cue signals which are recorded on the tape. This is
described in greater detail below with respect to the flow charts
shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C and 10.
In the event that the reverse flag is set when a 1/0 or 0/1 chopper
pulse transition is sensed, the BCD and binary tape counters are
decremented accordingly. In particular, if the reverse flag is set
when a 1/0 transition is detected, an underflow counter first is
incremented. Then, inquiry is made as to whether the count of this
underflow counter is greater than a threshold value. It will be
appreciated that, during a rewind operation, if the tape breaks,
the supply reel drive spindle may, nevertheless, continue to be
driven. To apprise the user that, in fact, the tape has broken and
is not being rewound, the underflow counter is incremented in
response to 1/0 chopper pulse transitions; and when the count of
this underflow counter exceeds a threshold value, the capstan motor
is turned off, the EOT flag is set and the tone counter is set to a
predetermined count such as the count of ten, all this being
similar to the operations that take place when the end of tape has
been reached. Thus, the underflow counter is used to sense the
possibility of tape breakage in the rewind mode. It will be
appreciated that if the tape breaks when being transported in the
forward direction, the supply reel no longer rotates; and this is
the very same condition which obtains when the end of tape is
reached. There is, therefore, no need to provide separate means by
which tape breakage in the forward direction is sensed.
If the underflow counter has not been incremented beyond the
threshold value, the BCD tape counter is decremented and then the
binary tape counter also is decremented. From the flow chart of
FIG. 5A, it is seen that if a 0/1 transition is sensed and if the
reverse flag is set, then only the binary tape counter is
decremented. Thus, the binary tape counter is both incremented and
decremented in response to each chopper pulse transition, whereas
the BCD tape counter is incremented and decremented in response
only to 1/0 chopper pulse transitions.
After the binary tape counter is updated, that is, after it has
been incremented or decremented, depending upon whether the reverse
flag is set, a forward or reverse cue position routine is carried
out. More particularly, the forward cue position routine is
executed when the tape is driven in the forward direction and the
reverse cue position routine is executed when the tape is driven in
the reverse direction. The purpose of the forward or reverse cue
position routine is to update a cue memory address which addresses
a cue memory that stores, in separate addressable locations, counts
of the binary tape counter that represent those locations on the
magnetic tape at which letter or instruction cue signals have been
recorded. In one embodiment, such counts are stored in successive
locations of a "letter" section of the cue memory to represent the
locations of letter cue signals, and other counts are stored in
successive locations of an "instruction" section of the cue memory
to represent the locations of instruction cue signals. The cue
memory address is adapted to address the next successive location
in the "letter" or "instruction" section of the cue memory to store
a "letter" count or "instruction" count, respectively, if a letter
or instruction cue signal is generated. However, if the tape is
rewound past a previously recorded cue signal, the cue memory
address should be decremented to make available the cue memory
location that stored a "letter" or "instruction" count that may be
discarded. Similarly, if the tape is advanced past that previously
recorded cue signal, the cue memory address should be incremented
to make available the next cue memory location because the
previously stored "letter" or "instruction" count may be
retained.
Turning to FIG. 5B, the forward cue position routine is carried out
by inquiring if the present count of the binary tape counter is
equal to any count stored in the "letter" section of the cue
memory. This inquires if the present position of the tape is equal
to a position at which a letter cue signal had been recorded. If
so, the letter cue memory address is incremented. Then, after the
letter cue memory address is incremented or, alternatively, if the
count of the binary tape counter is not equal to a stored letter
cue position, inquiry is made if the count of the binary tape
counter is equal to a stored count representing the location (or
position) of a previously recorded instruction cue signal. If this
inquiry is answered in the negative, the microprocessor exits the
forward cue position routines to continue the tape counter update
routine. But, if the tape is positioned at a location at which an
instruction cue signal had been generated, the instruction cue
memory address is incremented, thereby addressing the next
successive location of the "instruction" section of the cue memory.
Then, the microprocessor exits the forward cue position
routine.
The reverse cue position routine is similar to the forward cue
position routine and is represented by the flow chart of FIG. 5C.
As before, inquiry first is made of whether the present count of
the binary tape counter is equal to a stored count representing the
location of a previously recorded letter cue signal. If so, the
letter cue memory address is decremented. Then, or in the
alternative if this inquiry is answered in the negative, inquiry
next is made as to whether this count of the binary tape counter is
equal to a stored count representing the location of a previously
recorded instruction cue signal. If so, the instruction cue memory
address is decremented and the microprocessor then exits the
reverse cue position routine to continue the tape counter update
routine. However, if this last inquiry is answered in the negative,
the microprocessor merely exits the reverse cue position routine
and continues the tape counter update routine.
Thus, it is seen that the cue memory address is incremented or
decremented, depending upon the direction in which the tape is
moved, when the present position of the tape coincides with a
previously recorded letter or instruction cue signal. When the tape
is reversed to pass over a previously recorded cue signal, that cue
signal may be discarded because its stored count (representing the
position at which it had been recorded) now may be "over-written"
in the cue memory.
After the forward or reverse cue position routine is carried out,
inquiry is made as to whether the change direction flag is set.
This flag is set when the direction in which the tape is driven is
reversed. Thus, if the tape had been driven in the forward
direction to carry out a record or play or fast forward operation,
the change direction flag will be set in response to the operation
of rewind/play button 28. Alternatively, if the tape had been
driven in the reverse direction, the change direction flag will be
set when rewind/play button 28 is released or when conference
record button 22 or momentary record button 24 or fast forward
button 34 next is operated. If the inquiry as to whether the change
direction flag is set is answered in the affirmative, the change
direction timer (mentioned in connection with the tone and timer
update routine of FIG. 4) is reset. Next, or if the change
direction flag is not set, inquiry is made as to whether the EOT
flag is set. If so, the microprocessor returns to the main loop;
and if not, the EOT timer first is reset before returning to the
main loop.
Input Routine
After returning to the main loop upon the completion of the tape
counter update routine, the microprocessor proceeds, as illustrated
in the flow chart of FIG. 3, until the input routine is reached.
The input routine is shown by the flow chart of FIG. 6 and will now
be described. Initially, the in stop flag is reset. As will become
apparent, this flag normally is reset when device 10 is disposed in
an active mode. After the in stop flag is reset, inquiry is made as
to whether the device is in its conference mode, its play mode or
its erase mode. If not, the in stop flag is set and the input
routine advances to the next inquiry. If, however, the conference,
play or erase mode is present, the in stop flag is not set, and the
input routine then advances to the next inquiry of whether the
record medium (assumed herein to be a tape cassette) has been
removed from the device. For example, a suitable flag may be set or
reset when the record medium is loaded and ejected, respectively,
from the device. Sensing of this flag determines whether the record
medium has been removed. If the record medium has been removed,
that is, if this inquiry is answered in the affirmative, all cue
memory locations--both "letter" and "instruction" cue locations
--are reset, the binary tape counter is reset, the cue memory
address is reset, a cue counter (which counts the number of
"letter" cue signals and the number of "instruction" cue signals
that have been recorded) is preset and all other cue flags that may
have been set are reset. Thus, upon removal of the record medium,
all stored cue information associated therewith is cleared in
preparation for a fresh record medium that may be loaded into the
device.
Continuing with the flow chart shown in FIG. 6, if the record
medium has not been removed from the device, inquiry is made as to
whether the stop button is operated. If so, the input routine
advances to reset all "in" flags, that is, to reset the in
conference, in play or in erase flag, to set the in stop flag and
to set the disengage pinch roller immediately flag. It will be
explained below that the last-mentioned flag is used to control the
actuator for selectively positioning the pinch roller and
record/playback head. Then, the microprocessor returns from the
input routine to the main loop to continue through the main
loop.
The aforementioned "in" flags will be reset and the in stop flag
will be set following the resetting of all of the cue memory
locations, the resetting of the tape counter, the resetting of the
cue memory address, the presetting of the cue counter and the
clearing of all other cue flags, in the event that the record
medium has been removed from the device.
If the stop button is not operated, inquiry is made as to whether
any two operating buttons are operated concurrently (except for the
concurrent operation of the rewind and cue/erase buttons which is
needed to effect an erase operation). If this inquiry is answered
in the affirmative, the "in" flags are reset, the in stop flag is
set and the disengage pinch roller immediately flag is set.
However, if two operating buttons are not operated concurrently,
inquiry next is made as to whether momentary record button 24 is
operated. If so, the aforementioned "in" flags are reset and, as
illustrated in FIG. 6, the in stop flag also is reset. The
microprocessor then returns to the main loop.
However, if the momentary record button is not operated, inquiry is
made as to whether conference record button 22 now is being
operated. If so, the in conference flag is set and the other "in"
flags (i. e. the in play and in erase flags) are reset. Then, the
in stop flag is reset and the microprocessor returns to the main
loop. However, if the conference record button is not being
operated, inquiry is made as to whether fast-forward button 34 is
being operated. If so, the in conference and in erase flags are
reset, the in stop flag also is reset and the microprocessor
returns to the main loop.
If the fast forward button is not being operated, inquiry is made
as to whether rewind/play button 28 is being operated. If so,
inquiry next is made as to whether cue/erase button 30 also is
being operated. If it is, the in erase flag is set, all other "in"
flags are reset, the in stop flag also is reset and the input
routine returns to the main loop. But, if the rewind button is
being operated but the erase button is not, the in play flag is
set, all other "in" flags are reset, the in stop flag also is reset
and the microprocessor next returns to the main loop.
If the rewind button is not being operated, inquiry is made as to
whether the record flag has been set. If not, the input routine
merely returns to the main loop. But, if this inquiry is answered
in the affirmative, the next inquiry which is made is whether
cue/erase button 30 is being operated. If it is, the momentary
record flag is set and the microprocessor then returns to the main
loop. But, if the record flag is set but cue/erase button 30 is not
being operated, the input routine merely returns to the main
loop.
Thus, the input routine functions to detect whether an operating
button has been pushed and, if so, to set an appropriate flag as a
function of that button. For example, if the conference record
button is pushed, the in conference flag is set. If the rewind
button is pushed, the in play flag is set. If the rewind button and
the cue/erase button are pushed concurrently, the in erase flag is
set. If the stop button is pushed, the in stop flag is set. If two
operating buttons are pushed concurrently (with the exception of
the rewind and cue/erase buttons), the in stop flag is set.
Finally, if no operating button is pushed and if the device is not
in its conference, play or erase modes of operation, the in stop
flag is set. It will be appreciated, from the discussions set out
below, that the input routine conditions the device to operate in
the mode which is selected by the operator.
As described above, after the input routine is executed, the main
loop proceeds, as illustrated in FIG. 3. If, in executing this main
loop, inquiry as to whether the in stop flag is set is answered in
the affirmative (the in stop flag having been set during the input
routine), the main loop jumps to the stop routine. The flow chart
which functionally represents this stop routine is illustrated in
FIG. 7A and now will be described.
Stop Routine
Inquiry initially is made as to whether a cue tone is being
generated. If so, the stop routine branches to the momentary record
routine, described below with respect to FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C.
However, if the cue tone is not being generated, the tone flag is
reset, the tone counter is reset and the fast forward, rewind, play
and record flags all are reset. Then, inquiry is made as to whether
the EOT flag is set. If so, this flag is reset (which results in
the termination of end-of-tape warning tones) and the disengage
pinch roller immediately flag is set. Then, the next inquiry is
made. However, if the EOT flag is not set, the stop routine
proceeds immediately to this next inquiry.
As shown, the next inquiry is whether the actuator fail flag is
set. This flag is set, as will be described below with respect to
FIG. 7B, in the event that the actuator is energized to withdraw
the pinch roller and record/playback head to their disengaged
positions, but fails to do so. If this inquiry is answered in the
affirmative, thus indicating that the actuator has not disengaged
the pinch roller and head, the actuator motor is turned off and the
microprocessor and device both advance to the dormant condition.
The device may be brought out of the dormant condition by operating
enable button 36, which initiates the power-up routine, from which
the microprocessor advances to the illustrated stop routine.
Although not described in detail herein, one purpose of the
power-up routine is to determine when the enable button has been
operated or the battery used to power the device has been replaced.
If the latter, the tape counters and cue memory are cleared.
Another purpose of the power-up routine is to reset the actuator
fail flag.
Returning to the stop routine, if the inquiry as to whether the
actuator fail flag is set is answered in the negative, inquiry then
is made as to whether this is the first branch to the stop routine.
If so, the stop timer is reset and the capstan motor is turned off.
However, if this is not the first cycle through the stop routine,
inquiry next is made as to whether the disengage pinch roller
immediately flag has been set. If so, inquiry is made as to whether
the pinch roller is disengaged, and if it is not, the actuator
motor is turned on by executing the actuator motor routine
illustrated in FIG. 7B until the pinch roller is sensed as being
fully disengaged. If the pinch roller is fully disengaged, the
inquiry as to whether this pinch roller is disengaged is answered
in the affirmative; and then the actuator motor is turned off and
inquiry is made as to whether the stop timer has been incremented
to a count that is equal to or greater than five minutes. This
inquiry as to the count of the stop timer also is made if, in the
stop routine, the inquiry of whether the disengage pinch roller
immediately flag is set is answered in the negative. If the stop
timer, which is reset in the first cycle through the stop routine,
has been incremented to a count that is not yet equal to five
minutes, the microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main
loop. However, once this timer has been incremented to a count
equal to or greater than five minutes, that is, once it is
determined that device 10 has been in its inactive mode for at
least five minutes, the stcp routine advances to inquire as to
whether the pinch roller is disengaged. Usually, this inquiry now
will be answered in the affirmative, and the microprocessor then
advances to the dormant condition after turning off the actuator
motor. However, if the pinch roller is not yet disengaged, the
actuator motor routine is carried out until pinch roller
disengagement; whereupon the actuator motor is turned off and the
microprocessor returns to the main loop. As illustrated, after
cycling through the actuator motor routine, the record flag is
reset. Subsequently, the dormant condition is assumed.
Actuator Motor Turn-On Routine
The actuator motor turn-on routine is illustrated by the flow chart
shown in FIG. 7B. The microprocessor carries out this routine
whenever the pinch roller and record/playback head are to be moved
from one position to another. For example, if the pinch roller and
head are to be moved to their fully disengaged position, or to
their partially engaged position, or to their fully engaged
position, as in response to the operation of the stop button, the
rewind or fast forward buttons, the momentary record or conference
record buttons, or the release of the rewind button, the actuator
motor turn-on routine is executed.
On cycling through the actuator motor turn-on routine, the actuator
motor first is turned on, and then inquiry is made as to whether an
actuator flag is set. Normally, this flag is not set; and this
inquiry is answered in the negative. Consequently, the actuator
flag is set and an actuator timer is reset. Then, the
microprocessor returns to that portion of its program from which it
entered the actuator motor turn-on routine.
In the event that the actuator flag had been set, resulting in an
affirmative answer to the inquiry of whether this flag is set,
inquiry next is made as to whether the actuator timer has exceeded
a count corresponding to 2 seconds. If not, the microprocessor
returns to that portion of its program from which it entered the
actuator motor turn-on routine; but if the actuator timer has
exceeded a count corresponding to 2 seconds, the actuator failure
flag is set. Then, the actuator flag is reset and the actuator
motor is turned off. The microprocessor then returns to that
portion of its program from which it entered the actuator motor
turn-on routine.
Thus, from the routine described above and illustrated in FIG. 7B,
it is seen that a time period of 2 seconds is established for the
actuator to be driven to its commanded position (i. e. to its fully
disengaged, its partially engaged or its fully engaged position).
If this has not occurred, the actuator failure flag is set and, as
illustrated in the stop routine flow chart of FIG. 7A, this results
in disposing the microprocessor and device in its dormant
condition.
Momentary Record and Conference Record Routines
The momentary record routine is carried out if, while executing the
main loop, the momentary record button is sensed as being operated.
The conference record routine is carried out if, during the input
routine, the conference record button is sensed as being operated,
thus setting the in conference record flag, and then while
executing the main loop, the in conference record flag is sensed as
being set. The momentary and conference record routines are quite
similar, with the only major difference being the setting of the
record amplifier gain. These routines are illustrated in FIGS. 8A,
8B and 8C. As illustrated, when the momentary record routine is
carried out, a low AGC or low record amplifier gain, is set.
However, when the conference record routine is carried out, a high
AGC, or amplifier gain, is set. Thereafter, both routines are
identical.
After setting the record amplifier gain, the record electronics are
enabled and the playback electronics are inhibited. Thus, play
select is reset and record select is set. It is appreciated that
the microprocessor provides suitable output signals to selectively
control the gain of the record amplifier and circuitry and also to
selectively enable and disable the record and playback
circuitry.
After the record circuit is enabled, inquiry is made as to whether
the record flag is set. If not, as when this is the first cycle
through the record routine, inquiry is made as to whether the
reverse flag is set. If it is, as when the immediately preceding
active mode of the device was the rewind mode, inquiry is made as
to whether the change direction flag is set. If not, then this flag
is set, the change direction timer is reset and the EOT timer also
is reset. Both of these timers are incremented during the tone and
timer update routine, as described above with respect to FIG. 4.
Then, inquiry is made as to whether the pinch roller is fully
engaged. From the flow chart shown in FIG. 8A, it is recognized
that this inquiry also is made in the event that the reverse flag
is not set or in the event that, although the reverse flag is set,
the change direction flag also is set.
It is appreciated that, in order to advance the tape at the record
speed, the pinch roller must be fully engaged. Hence, if the
inquiry as to whether the pinch roller is fully engaged is answered
in the negative, inquiry next is made as to whether the actuator
fail flag is set. If not, the actuator motor routine (FIG. 7B) is
carried out in order to engage the pinch roller. Also, the play,
fast forward, rewind, record and in erase flags all are reset, and
the capstan motor is turned off. Thus, the capstan is not driven
while the actuator is turned on, thereby conserving battery power.
Then, the record routine advances to the beginning of the main
loop. However, if the actuator fail flag has been set, as described
above in conjunction with FIG. 7B, the microprocessor advances to
the stop routine.
If, however, the inquiry as to whether the pinch roller is fully
engaged is answered in the affirmative, the actuator motor is
turned off, the actuator flag (which had been set during the
actuate motor routine) is reset, and inquiry next is made as to
whether the change direction flag is set. If so, thus indicating
that the previous active mode of the device was the rewind mode,
inquiry is made as to whether the count of the change direction
timer is greater than or equal to 0.5 seconds. This timer had been
reset previously in the record routine, and if the timer is not
equal to 0.5 seconds, the microprocessor advances to the beginning
of the main loop. But, if the count of the change direction timer
is equal to or greater than 0.5 seconds, the record routine
advances to reset the change direction flag and to reset the
reverse flag. Next, the capstan motor is turned on and the "letter"
and "instruction" cue flags are reset. As illustrated, the capstan
motor is turned on and these cue flags are reset in the event that
the change direction flag had not been set.
Then, inquiry is made as to whether device 10 is being commanded to
operate in its record mode. If not, the play flag is set and the
fast forward, rewind and record flags are reset. The microprocessor
then returns to the beginning of the main loop.
However, if the record mode is commanded, the record flag is set,
the end zone flag is reset and the record routine advances to the
beginning of the main loop.
The foregoing steps, commencing with the inquiry as to whether the
reverse flag is set, is based upon a negative answer to the inquiry
as to whether the record flag is set. If, however, this record flag
is set, the record routine advances to point A shown in FIG. 8B, to
inquire whether any cue flag (i. e. the "letter" or "instruction"
cue flag) is set. If no cue flag is set, inquiry next is made as to
whether cue button 30 is being operated. If the cue button is not
operated, the cue stop flag is set and the record routine advances
to inquire if any cue signals (i. e. letter or instruction cue
signals) are in the process of being recorded. If so, a cue
generate routine (similar to that described in U. S. Pat. No.
4,378,577) is carried out and then inquiry is made whether the
count of the binary tape counter is equal to a count stored in the
location of the cue memory which is addressed by the cue address
generator. Stated otherwise, inquiry is made as to whether the
binary tape count is equal to a cue position count stored in the
addressed cue memory location. From the flow chart of FIG. 8B, this
inquiry also is made if cue signals are not in the process of being
recorded.
If the preceding inquiry is answered in the affirmative, the record
routine advances to inquire whether the last element of bar graph
display 44 (FIG. 1) is energized. However, if the binary tape count
is not equal to the cue position count stored in the addressed
location of the cue memory, inquiry next is made as to whether the
binary tape count is equal to any letter cue position count stored
in the cue memory. If so, inquiry is made as to whether the count
of a letter cue counter is greater than the letter cue memory
location then being addressed. The microprocessor (or equivalent)
includes a letter cue counter which is incremented each time a
letter cue signal is recorded and an instruction cue counter which
is incremented each time an instruction cue signal is recorded. As
mentioned above, the cue memory is comprised of a "letter" section
and an "instruction" section, each adapted to store cue position
counts representing the locations on the record medium at which
letter cue signals or instruction cue signals are recorded.
Preferably, letter cue position counts are stored in successive
locations of the "letter" section of the cue memory and, likewise,
instruction cue position counts are stored in successive locations
of the "instruction" section of the cue memory. When a letter (or
instruction) cue signal is recorded, both the letter (or
instruction) cue counter and the letter (or instruction) cue memory
address are incremented. Hence, the count of the letter (or
instruction) cue counter and the letter (or instruction) cue memory
address normally correspond to each other, e. g. they normally are
equal. It is recalled from FIGS. 5B and 5C that the letter (or
instruction) cue memory address is decremented when the record
medium is rewound past the location of a previously recorded letter
(or instruction) cue signal and is incremented when the record
medium is advanced past such a location. Although the cue memory
address is changed, the cue count is not because only the recording
of additional cue signals effects a change therein. Hence the cue
count is not affected merely by the rewinding or advancing of the
record medium.
Therefore, if the record medium had been rewound past two or more
previously recorded letter cue signals and then, during the record
routine, the first of these cue signal positions is detected, the
inquiry of whether the letter cue count exceeds the letter cue
memory address will be answered in the affirmative. Then, the cue
position counts stored in those letter cue memory locations equal
to and greater than the location then being addressed by the letter
cue memory address are shifted down one position, with the cue
position count stored in the addressed location being "overwritten"
by the cue position count stored in the next higher location. For
example, if the letter cue memory address now is "4" and the letter
cue count is "6", the cue position count stored in location "5" is
shifted down into location "4" and the cue position count stored in
location "6" is shifted down into location "5". Next, the cue
position count stored in the last or highest location (e. g.
location "6" in the present example) is cleared. This last step
also is carried out in the event that the binary tape count is
equal to a stored letter cue position count but the cue count does
not exceed the letter cue memory address. For example, if the
record medium is reversed and then advanced to record information
over the position at which the last letter cue signal was recorded,
the cue position count representing that last letter cue signal
simply is cleared from the cue memory.
After the letter cue position count stored in the last location of
the cue memory is cleared, both the letter cue counter and the
letter cue memory address are decremented.
Next, a similar set of steps is carried out for instruction cue
position counts. That is, inquiry is made as to whether the binary
tape count is equal to any instruction cue position count stored in
the cue memory. It is seen from the flow chart of FIG. 8B that this
inquiry also follows in the event that the binary tape count is not
equal to any stored letter cue position count. If this inquiry is
answered in the negative, the routine advances to inquire if the
last element of bar graph display 44 is energized. However, if this
inquiry is answered in the affirmative, inquiry next is made as to
whether the instruction cue count exceeds the instruction cue
memory address. If so, the instruction cue position counts stored
in those instruction cue memory locations greater than the location
then being addressed by the instruction cue memory address are
shifted down one position. Next, the count stored in the last
instruction cue memory location is cleared. This last step also is
carried out in the event that the binary tape count is equal to a
stored instruction cue position count but the instruction cue count
does not exceed the instruction cue memory address.
After the instruction cue position count stored in the last
location of the instruction cue memory is cleared, both the
instruction cue counter and the instruction cue memory address are
decremented. Then, inquiry is made of whether the last element of
the bar graph display is energized.
If the last mentioned inquiry is answered in the negative, the
microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main loop. However,
if the last element of the bar graph display is being energized,
inquiry of whether the end zone timer has reached a count equal to
or greater than fifteen seconds is made. If not, the microprocessor
returns to the beginning of the main loop. But, if this inquiry is
answered in the affirmative, the end zone timer is reset, the tone
timer is reset and the tone flag is set. As will be described, the
count of the end zone timer is used to control the generation of a
warning tone which indicates that the end zone region has been
reached; and this region corresponds to the energization of the
last element of the bar graph display.
Returning to point A shown in the flow chart of FIG. 8B, let it be
assumed that a letter or instruction cue flag has been set. The
manner in which these flags are set will be described below with
respect to the flow chart of FIG. 8C. Next, inquiry is made of
whether the count of the cue timer is equal to or greater than one
second. If it is not, inquiry then is made of whether the cue
button is in the process of being operated. This inquiry has been
discussed above, and the steps ensuing therefrom in the event that
it is answered in the negative also have been described. If the
count of the cue timer is less than one second and if the cue
button is in the process of being operated, inquiry is made of
whether the cue stop flag is set. Normally, this flag will be set
and the record routine then advances to reset it and, thereafter,
the routine proceeds to point C in the flow chart of FIG. 8C.
However, if the cue stop flag is not set, for example, if this is
the second cycle through the flow chart shown in FIG. 8B following
the operation of the cue button, the record routine advances to
inquire as to whether any cue signals are in the process of being
recorded. The steps ensuing from this inquiry have been described
in detail hereinabove.
Let it be assumed that, in the flow chart shown in FIG. 8B, a cue
flag has been set and the count of the cue timer is at least equal
to one second. The next step in the record routine is to reset an
increment flag. From the discussion set out below, it will be
apparent that, if desired, this step, as well as the increment
flag, may be omitted.
Next, inquiry is made as to whether the cue memory is full. For
example, if a letter cue signal is in the process of being
recorded, this inquiry is determined by detecting whether the
highest letter cue memory address has been reached. Similarly, if
an instruction cue signal is in the process of being recorded, this
inquiry is determined by sensing if the highest instruction cue
memory address has been reached. If so, that is, if the cue memory
address is full and, thus, additional letter cue position counts or
additional instruction cue position counts cannot be stored, the
record routine advances, as shown in FIG. 8B, to inquire if the
letter cue flag is set. However, if the cue memory is not full,
that is, if there is an available location therein to store a
letter cue position count now being produced or an instruction cue
position count now being produced, inquiry is made as to whether a
shift flag is set. As will be described below, the shift flag is
set in the event that a letter or instruction cue signal is to be
inserted between two previously recorded letter or instruction cue
signals. If this shift flag is set, all letter cue position counts
that are stored at letter cue memory addresses greater than the
location now being addressed are shifted upward by one location;
and if the letter cue memory had been filled, the letter cue
position count that had been stored in the last location therein is
cleared.
The aforementioned shifting operation will best be understood by a
numerical example. Let it be assumed that eight letter cue position
counts have been stored in locations "1" to "8" in the letter cue
memory. Let it be further assumed that the record medium is rewound
from its present position back through the eighth letter and then
through the seventh letter and then into the sixth letter. It is
recalled, from the aforedescribed reverse cue position routine
(FIG. 5C) that, during this rewind operation, the letter cue memory
address is decremented from its count of "8" to "7" to "6" and
then, when the record medium is rewound to the sixth letter, this
letter cue memory address is decremented to a count of "5". Now,
let it be assumed that the user of the device modifies the sixth
letter which he recorded and now records a letter cue signal
upstream of the location at which the sixth letter cue signal had
been recorded previously. That is, a letter cue signal now must be
inserted between the fifth and sixth letter cue signals that have
been previously recorded. This is effected by shifting the letter
cue position counts that had been stored at letter cue memory
locations "6", "7" and "8" upward by one location to new locations
"7", "8" and "9", respectively. Thus, the letter cue position count
that had been stored at letter cue memory location "6" is shifted
into location "7", thus making location "6" available to store the
letter cue position count now generated in response to the
operation of the cue button. From the foregoing numerical example,
it is appreciated that those letter cue position counts which were
stored at locations greater than the letter cue memory location now
being addressed (e. g. those locations greater than location "5")
are respectively shifted upward by one location.
Returning to the flow chart shown in FIG. 8B, after the
aforementioned shifting operation is carried out, the letter cue
memory address is incremented; and then the binary tape count then
present in the binary tape counter is loaded into the addressed
letter cue memory location. Consistent with the aforedescribed
numerical example, the letter cue memory address of "5" first is
incremented to address location "6"; and the count then present in
the binary tape counter is loaded into location "6". Hence, the
location in the letter cue memory which has been made available to
store an inserted cue position count now receives that count.
Consequently, the successive locations within the letter cue memory
have the contents thereof shifted upward accordingly in order to
allow an additional cue position count to be inserted at the proper
memory location.
In the event that the shift flag was not set, the count of the
binary tape counter merely is shifted into the location of the
letter cue memory now being addressed. That is, the aforementioned
shifting operation is omitted if the shift flag is not set.
After the count of the binary tape counter is loaded into the
addressed letter cue memory location, the shift flag is reset.
Then, inquiry is made as to whether the letter cue flag is set. As
will be described, this letter cue flag is set in response to the
first operation of the cue button to indicate that the letter cue
signal is being recorded. If the cue button is operated once again
within one second, that is, before the count of the cue timer
reaches one second, the instruction cue flag will be set. In any
event, the present inquiry of whether the letter cue flag is set is
reached only after the count of the cue timer reaches one second.
Hence, if the letter cue flag is set at that time, it then is reset
and inquiry is made of whether the instruction cue flag is set. If
it is, all of the cue flags (including the instruction cue flag)
are reset; and the record routine advances to the set of
instructions commencing with the inquiry of whether any cue signals
are being recorded.
However, if the letter cue flag is not set or, alternatively, if it
is but the instruction cue flag is not set, the record routine
first resets the cue timer and then advances to the set of
instructions commencing with the inquiry of whether any cue signals
are being recorded.
In the flow chart of FIG. 8B, the first time that the operation of
the cue button is detected results in resetting the cue stop flag,
whereupon the record routine advances to point C of the flow chart
shown in FIG. 8C. From this point, inquiry is made of whether the
instruction cue flag is set. If it is, the record routine merely
returns to point B of the flow chart shown in FIG. 8B. However, if
the instruction cue flag is not set, inquiry next is made as to
whether the letter cue flag is set. If it is, inquiry is made as to
whether the aforementioned increment flag is set. As referred to
above, this flag may be omitted; but, in the embodiment described
herein, it is set when the cue button first is operated, thus
conditioning the record routine to respond to repeated operation
thereof, as when an instruction cue signal is recorded. If the
increment flag is set, the cue memory address and cue counter are
decremented. As will be described, when the cue button first is
operated, both the cue counter and cue memory address are
incremented to indicate the recording of another cue signal and to
permit the cue position count corresponding thereto to be stored in
the next successive address. However, this assumes that the cue
signal which is being recorded is a letter cue signal. If the
operator is, in fact, recording an instruction cue signal, the cue
counter and cue memory address should be decremented at this stage
in the program to restore both to their conditions prior to the
first operation of the cue button. That is, the cue memory address
now addresses the proper location for storing an instruction (as
opposed to a letter) cue position count, and the cue counter now is
conditioned to indicate the recording of an instruction (as opposed
to a letter) cue signal.
If the increment flag has not been set or, alternatively, after the
cue memory address and cue counter had been decremented, the shift
flag and the increment flag both are reset.
Let it be assumed that neither the instruction cue flag nor the
letter cue flag is set. Proceeding with the record routine shown in
FIG. 8C, inquiry next is made as to whether the letter cue memory
address is equal to the highest location in the letter cue memory.
For the purpose of the present description, it is assumed that a
maximum of nine letter cue position counts and a maximum of nine
instruction cue position counts may be stored in the cue memory. Of
course, it is appreciated that any desired maximum number of letter
and instruction cue position counts may be stored. The present
discussion will proceed with the assumption that the maximum number
of such cue position counts is equal to nine. If this inquiry is
answered in the negative, inquiry next is made as to whether the
letter cue count exceeds the letter cue memory address. A similar
inquiry has been discussed hereinabove in conjunction with the flow
chart shown in FIG. 8B, wherein the record medium is advanced to
record information over a location at which a letter cue signal had
been recorded previously.
If the letter cue count does not exceed the letter cue memory
address, the letter cue memory address is incremented and the
increment flag is set. It will be appreciated that, by incrementing
the cue memory address, the next successive location in the letter
cue memory is addressed to receive the binary tape count. Next,
inquiry is made of whether the cue count has reached its maximum
count (assumed herein to be the count of nine). If not, the cue
counter is incremented. Thereafter, the tone flag is set, the tone
timer is reset and the letter cue flag is set. These flags and
timers are set and reset in the same manner in the event that the
cue count is equal to nine. Then, the record routine advances to
point B shown in FIG. 8B.
If the cue memory address is equal to a count of 9, the cue address
is preset to a count representing that the cue memory is full; and
then the tone flag and letter cue flag are set, and the tone timer
is reset. However, if the cue memory address is not equal to a
count of 9, but the cue count exceeds the cue memory address, the
shift flag is set. From FIG. 8C, it is seen that, when the shift
flag is set, the steps of incrementing the cue memory address and
setting the increment flag are bypassed.
Instructions similar to those which are carried out in the event
that the instruction cue flag is not set and the letter cue flag
also is not set are executed in the event that the letter cue flag
is set. Proceeding with the flow chart shown in FIG. 8C, and
following the step of resetting both the shift flag and the
increment flag, it is seen that inquiry is made as to whether the
instruction cue memory address is equal to a count of 9 (i. e. the
maximum count). If it is, the cue address is preset to a count
representing that the instruction cue memory is full; and then the
instruction cue flag is set and the tone counter is set to a count
of 1. The record routine then advances to point B shown in FIG.
8B.
However, if the instruction cue memory address is not equal to 9
(that is, if it is not equal to the maximum number of instruction
cue storage locations), inquiry is made as to whether the
instruction cue count exceeds the instruction cue memory address. A
similar inquiry has been described above with respect to the flow
chart of FIG. 8B. If this inquiry now is answered in the
affirmative, those instruction cue position counts which are stored
at instruction cue memory locations greater than the present
instruction cue memory address are respectively shifted upward by
one location; and if an instruction cue position count had been
stored at location "9", this position count is cleared. Then, the
instruction cue memory address is incremented. It is seen that this
address also is incremented if the instruction cue count does not
exceed the instruction cue memory address.
After the instruction cue memory address is incremented, inquiry is
made as to whether the instruction cue count is equal to 9. If not,
this count is incremented. However, if the instruction cue count is
equal to 9, the last-mentioned step is omitted and the cue address
now is set equal to the instruction cue memory address. Thereafter,
the instruction cue flag is set and the tone counter is set to a
count of 1. The record routine then advances to point B of FIG.
8B.
In the present example, it is seen that the cue address normally
coincides with the letter cue memory address, except when an
instruction cue signal is recorded. At that time, the cue address
is changed over to correspond to the instruction cue memory
address. Thus, the cue memory is addressed merely by a single cue
address generator which, of course, selects suitable locations in
the letter or instruction sections of the cue memory. Stated
otherwise, the letter and instruction cue memory addresses are
multiplexed for the purpose of addressing the cue memory.
Rewind Routine
As represented by the flow chart of the main loop shown in FIG. 3,
the rewind routine is carried out if the in erase flag is set or,
alternatively, if the rewind button is being operated. The rewind
routine is diagrammatically represented by the flow chart shown in
FIG. 9A, wherein inquiry first is made as to whether the rewind
flag is set. As will be described below, this flag is set when all
the conditions needed to carry out a rewind operation are
satisfied.
If the rewind flag is not set, inquiry is made as to whether the
reverse flag is set. Here too, the reverse flag is set when all of
the conditions appropriate for the rewind operation are satisfied.
If the reverse flag is not set, inquiry is made as to whether the
change direction flag is set. It will be appreciated that this flag
is set if the immediately preceding active mode of device 10
provided for the forward movement of the tape, either at normal or
fast speeds.
If the microprocessor has branched to the rewind routine and
neither the rewind flag nor the reverse flag nor the change
direction flag is set, the microprocessor advances to set the
change direction flag and to reset both the change direction timer
and the EOT timer. It is recalled that both of these timers are
incremented during the tone and timer update routine. Then, inquiry
is made as to whether the pinch roller is partially engaged. This
same inquiry is made if the reverse flag is set or if the change
direction flag is set. It is preferred that, in the rewind mode,
the pinch roller be spaced from the capstan and the head be in
partial engagement with the tape. This is referred to as "partial
engagement" and permits the tape to be transported rapidly, and
brings the head in sufficiently close proximity to the tape so as
to reproduce unintelligible sounds, or "monkey chatter" as the tape
is being driven. Such reproduced sounds apprise the operator that
the tape is being transported and permit him to locate "blank"
portions on the tape.
If the pinch roller is not partially engaged, inquiry is made as to
whether the actuator fail flag is set. If it is, the in stop flag
is set and the microprocessor advances to the stop routine,
described above. However, if the pinch roller is not partially
engaged and if the actuator fail flag is not set, the fast forward,
rewind, record and play flags all are reset, the capstan motor is
turned off and the actuator motor routine is carried out. The
rewind routine then proceeds to the beginning of the main loop. It
will be appreciated that the main loop jumps to the rewind routine
and then cycles back to the beginning of the main loop until the
pinch roller is sensed as being partially engaged, or until the
actuator fail flag is set. When the inquiry of whether the pinch
roller is partially engaged is answered in the affirmative, the
"letter" and "instruction" cue flags are reset, the fast forward,
rewind, record and play flags are reset and the actuator motor is
turned off.
Next, inquiry is made as to whether the change direction flag is
set. As mentioned above, this flag is set if the immediately
preceding active mode of the device included tape movement in the
direction opposite to that for which tape movement now is
commanded. If the change direction flag is set, inquiry next is
made as to whether the count of the change direction timer is
greater than or equal to 0.5 seconds. It is recalled that the
change direction timer is reset upon the first cycle through the
rewind routine. If the count of the change direction timer has not
yet reached 0.5 seconds, the microprocessor advances to the
beginning of the main loop. Then, the microprocessor continues to
cycle through the main loop and jump to the rewind routine until
the count of the change direction timer is equal to or greater than
0.5 seconds. At that time, the change direction flag is reset, the
reverse and rewind flags are set, the capstan motor is energized in
the reverse direction and the underflow counter is reset. These
operations also are carried out in the event that the pinch roller
is partially engaged and the change direction flag is not set.
After these operations are executed, the microprocessor returns to
the beginning of the main loop.
At subsequent cycles through the rewind routine, the inquiry of
whether the rewind flag is set now will be answered in the
affirmative. Then, the capstan motor remains energized for reverse
operation; and inquiry next is made as to whether the in erase flag
is set. If not, the microprocessor advances to the cue pause
routine, described below with respect to FIG. 10. However, if the
in erase flag is set, an erase operation is carried out by enabling
the DC erase circuitry.
Then, a cue erase routine, described below with respect to FIG. 9B,
is carried out. After the cue erase routine is performed, inquiry
is made as to whether the count of the erase timer is greater than
or equal to four seconds. As mentioned above with respect to the
tone and timer update routine illustrated in FIG. 4, the erase
timer is incremented during the tone and timer update routine. If
the count of the erase timer is not yet equal to four seconds, the
microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main loop. However,
once the count of the erase timer reaches four seconds, that timer
is reset, the tone timer is reset and the tone flag is set. Then,
the microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main loop.
Cue Erase Routine
As mentioned above, this routine is carried out during the rewind
routine if the in erase flag is set. The cue erase routine
commences with the inquiry of whether the count of the binary tape
counter is equal to any stored letter cue position count. If not,
the cue erase routine jumps to inquire whether the count of the
binary tape counter is equal to any stored instruction cue position
count. If not, the microprocessor returns to continue with the
rewind routine.
If the count of the binary tape counter is equal to a stored letter
cue position count, inquiry next is made as to whether the letter
cue count exceeds the letter cue memory address +1. This adding of
the constant "1" to the cue memory address is needed because, it is
recalled, during a rewind operation, the cue memory address is
decremented when the location on the record medium at which a
previously recorded letter cue signal is reached. The letter cue
count will exceed the cue memory address +1 if additional letter
cue position counts had been inserted between previously recorded
letter cue position counts. If this inquiry is answered in the
negative, thus indicating that the last-recorded letter cue signal
has been reached, the letter cue position count stored in the last,
or highest, location in the letter cue memory is cleared therefrom,
and the letter cue counter is decremented. However, if the
aforementioned inquiry is answered in the affirmative, the steps of
clearing the last location in the letter cue memory and
decrementing the letter cue counter are preceded by the step of
shifting downward by one location all of the letter cue position
counts which are stored at locations in the letter cue memory which
exceed the letter cue memory address +1.
If the count of the binary tape counter is equal to a stored
instruction cue position count, inquiry is made as to whether the
instruction cue count exceeds the instruction cue memory address
+1. If not, the last, or highest, location in the instruction cue
memory at which an instruction cue position count has been stored
is cleared, and the instruction cue count is decremented. However,
if this inquiry is answered in the affirmative, the last-mentioned
steps are preceded by the step of shifting downward by one location
all instruction cue position counts which are stored at locations
in the instruction cue memory that exceed the instruction cue
memory address +1. Thereafter, the microprocessor exits the cue
erase routine and returns to the rewind routine.
Play Routine
In accordance with the main loop represented by the flow chart
shown in FIG. 3, if the stop flag is not set, and if the momentary
record button is not being operated, and if the in conference flag
is not set, and if the in erase flag is not set and if the rewind
button is not being operated, and if the in play flag is set, then
the input routine of FIG. 6 directs the microprocessor to jump to
the play routine diagrammatically represented by the flow chart
shown in FIG. 10. In carrying out the play routine, inquiry first
is made as to whether the play flag is set. If not, the
microprocessor jumps to point D of the routine, shown in FIG. 8A.
The instructions which follow point D have been described above and
will not now be further described. If, however, the play flag is
set (as it may be by the routine shown at the bottom of FIG. 8A),
the play routine (FIG. 10) proceeds to turn on the capstan motor
and then to inquire whether the fast forward button is being
operated. If the fast forward button is not on, the play flag
remains set and the fast forward, rewind and record flags are
reset. The microprocessor then returns to the beginning of the main
loop.
However, if the fast forward button is on, that is, if the user
operates fast forward button 34 while device 10 is disposed in its
play mode, the fast forward flag is set and the capstan motor is
energized to operate in the fast forward direction while engaged
with the pinch roller. In one embodiment, the cue pause routine
then is carried out.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, in the cue pause routine, inquiry is
made as to whether the cue pause flag is set. If not, inquiry is
made as to whether the binary tape count is equal to a letter cue
position count stored in any letter cue memory location. If not,
inquiry is made as to whether the binary tape count is equal to an
instruction cue position count stored in any instruction cue memory
location. If both of these inquiries are answered in the negative,
the microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main loop.
However, if the cue pause flag is not set but the binary tape count
is equal to a stored letter cue position count, then the cue pause
flag is set and the pause timer is reset. Likewise, if the binary
tape count is equal to a stored instruction cue position count, the
pause flag is set and the pause timer is reset and, additionally,
the indication "INS" is displayed by display 48 and the number of
this instruction cue signal (e. g. the instruction cue memory
address) is displayed by display 42. It is recalled from FIG. 4
that the pause timer is incremented during the tone and timer
update routine. After setting the cue pause flag and resetting the
pause timer, the capstan motor is turned off. Hence, tape movement
is temporarily interrupted; and the device "pauses" at the location
at which a cue signal had been recorded. The microprocessor then
returns to the beginning of the main loop.
If, however, the inquiry as to whether the cue pause flag is set is
answered in the affirmative, inquiry next is made as to whether the
count of the cue pause timer is greater than or equal to one
second. If not, the capstan motor is turned off (or remains off);
and the microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main loop.
But, when the count of the pause timer reaches one second, inquiry
next is made as to whether the binary tape count now is equal to
any cue position count stored in the cue memory. If not, the cue
pause flag is reset and the microprocessor returns to the beginning
of the main loop. But, if the binary tape count is equal to a
stored cue position count, the cue pause flag is not reset prior to
returning to the beginning of the main loop.
Fast Forward Routine
From the flow chart shown in FIG. 3, and from the foregoing
description, it is appreciated that the microprocessor jumps to the
play routine if the stop flag is not set, the momentary record
button is not operated, the conference record flag is not set, the
in erase flag is not set and the rewind button is not on but the in
play flag is set. If, however, the in play flag is not set, the
microprocessor jumps to the fast forward routine which is
schematically illustrated in FIG. 11. Initially, inquiry is made as
to whether the fast forward flag is set. If it is, that is, if the
fast forward mode had been initiated previously, the capstan motor
is energized in the fast forward direction, and the microprocessor
jumps to the cue pause routine, discussed above with respect to the
flow chart shown in FIG. 10.
However, if the fast forward flag is not set, inquiry is made as to
whether the reverse flag is set. From the discussion of the rewind
routine, schematically illustrated in FIG. 9A, it is recalled that
the reverse flag is set if device 10 had been disposed in its
rewind mode. If this reverse flag is set, inquiry next is made as
to whether the change direction flag is set. It is recalled that
this flag is set if the immediately preceding active mode of the
device included movement of the tape in a direction opposite to
that in which tape movement now is commanded. If the change
direction flag is not set, the fast forward routine advances to set
this flag and to reset both the change direction timer and the EOT
timer. Then, inquiry is made as to whether the pinch roller is
partially engaged. This inquiry also is made in the event that the
reverse flag is not set or in the event that the change direction
flag is set.
Advantageously, the pinch roller assumes its partially engaged
position during the fast forward routine. This permits the tape to
be driven rapidly with minimal impedance from the capstan and pinch
roller; while at the same time places the head in close proximity
so as to reproduce unintelligible noises, or "monkey chatter", as
the tape is being driven. If the pinch roller is not in its
partially engaged position, inquiry is made if the actuator fail
flag is set. If this flag is set, the routine advances to set the
in stop flag and then jumps to the stop routine. Hence, the device
is disposed in its inactive mode if the actuator fails to dispose
the pinch roller in its partially engaged position. But, if the
actuator fail flag is not set, the fast forward, rewind, record and
play flags all are reset, the capstan motor is turned off and the
actuator motor routine is executed. The microprocessor then
advances to the beginning of the main loop and successively cycles
through the main loop and the fast forward routine until the pinch
roller is sensed as being in its partially engaged position. At
that time, the inquiry as to whether the pinch roller is partially
engaged is answered in the affirmative, and the actuator flag (set
during the actuator motor routine), cue flags, fast forward,
rewind, record and play flags all are reset, and the actuator motor
is turned off.
Then, inquiry is made as to whether the change direction flag is
set. If it is, inquiry next is made as to whether the count of the
change direction timer is equal to or greater than 0.5 seconds. If
the count is less than 0.5 seconds, the fast forward routine
returns to the beginning of the main loop; and the microprocessor
continues to cycle through the main loop and fast forward routine
until the change direction timer is equal to 0.5 seconds. At that
time, the change direction flag is reset and the reverse flag also
is reset. Then, the fast forward flag is set. However, if the
inquiry as to whether the change direction flag is set is answered
in the negative, the next instruction is to set the fast forward
flag. Once this fast forward flag is set, the capstan motor is
energized to operate in the fast forward mode and the
microprocessor advances to the cue pause routine, discussed above
in FIG. 10.
Processor-Controlled Operations
It is believed that the manner in which the microprocessor
functions in accordance with the aforedescribed routines to control
device 10 will best be understood by brief descriptions of certain
commanded operations. Initially, let it be assumed that the
microprocessor ahd the device both are disposed in the dormant
condition. When keyboard enable button 36 is operated (FIG. 2), the
microprocessor leaves its dormant condition, carries out the
power-up routine to distinguish between operation of the keyboard
enable button and replacement of the battery, and then advances to
the main loop. It will be appreciated that the dormant condition is
not re-assumed unless the device remains in its inactive (or stop)
mode for a predetermined time (e. g. five minutes), or unless the
actuator fail flag is set or, in another embodiment, until the
keyboard enable button is operated once again to trigger the
dormant condition.
When in the main loop (FIG. 3), the tone and timer update routine
is carried out, followed by the tape counter update routine. As
shown in FIG. 4, the various timers are incremented each time that
the primary timer overflows. In one operating embodiment of this
invention, the respective timers are incremented once every 16
msec. If desired, however, these timers may be updated at a more
frequent or less frequent rate. Continuing with the flow chart of
FIG. 4, at the present time the tone flag is not set and the count
of the tone counter is equal to zero. Hence, the tone flag remains
reset and the tape counter update routine is carried out.
Turning to FIG. 5A, when tape is driven in the forward direction,
the BCD and binary tape counters both are incremented in response
to 1/0 chopper pulse transitions, and the binary tape counter is
additionally incremented in response to 0/1 transitions. These
counters are decremented in response to the foregoing transitions
when the tape is driven in the reverse direction. Also, the bar
graph display routine is carried out in response to 1/0
transistions.
It is seen that, if tape is not transported, as when device 10 is
disposed in its inactive mode, chopper pulse transitions are not
produced. Since the capstan is not operating in the inactive mode,
the EOT timer remains reset during each cycle through the tape
counter update routine. However, if the capstan is operating but
tape is not being transported, no chopper pulse transitions are
sensed and, ultimately, the EOT timer will be incremented (during
the tone and timer update routine) to a count equal to or greater
than 3.5 seconds. This indicates that the end of tape has been
reached and, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 5A, the capstan is
deactivated, the EOT flag is set and the tone counter is preset to
a count of 10. As will be described below, this presetting of the
tone counter results in the generation of interrupted audible tones
to apprise the operator that the end of tape has been reached.
If tape is being transported, as in the "record", "play", "fast
forward" or "rewind" modes, chopper pulse transitions are generated
and used to increment or decrement the binary tape counter. After
the count of this tape counter is updated, the forward or reverse
cue position routine is carried out. As mentioned above, the
purpose of these routines is to sense when the tape has been
transported past a previously recorded letter or instruction cue
signal and, if so, to update the letter or instruction cue memory
address to allow the cue memory location corresponding to that
address to retain the cue position count stored therein (as when
the tape is advanced past a previously recorded cue signal) or to
allow the cue position count stored at that location to be
"overwritten", as when the tape is reversed past that cue
signal.
Thereafter, the remainder of the tape counter update routine,
illustrated in the flow chart shown in FIG. 5A, is completed; and
the microprocessor then turns to and continues through the main
loop.
Returning to FIG. 3, it is assumed that reset/mode button 32 is not
operated, and the display mode for display 40 is adapted to display
tape counts. If the reset/mode button had been operated
momentarily, display 40 would display the particular letter, or
message, which is being recorded. That is, the letter cue memory
address would be displayed. Also, in this mode, when an instruction
cue signal is reached while moving the tape in the rewind or fast
forward modes, the number of that instruction cue signal, e. g. the
instruction cue memory address, would be displayed. In any event,
after selecting the display mode by operation of the reset button
routine, the display routine is carried out, as described in
copending application Ser. No. 564,480 and then the input routine
is executed.
When the main loop advances to the input routine (FIG. 6), the in
stop flag first is reset and then is set because the device is not
in its conference or play or erase modes (that is, neither the in
conference, nor the in play, nor the in erase flag is set).
Continuing with the input routine, if a fresh tape cassette is
loaded into device 10, the cue memory is cleared, the cue counter
and cue memory address are preset, the tape counters are reset and
all other cue flags that might have been set are reset. Then, the
microprocessor prepares for the inactive mode by resetting the in
conference, in erase, and in play flags, setting the in stop flag
(which already had been set) and setting the disengage pinch roller
immediately flag before returning to the main loop. In the present
example, it is assumed that a fresh cassette has not been loaded
into the device. Since keyboard enable button 36 is the only
operating button that has been pushed, negative answers are
obtained for the inquiries of whether the stop button is on,
whether two buttons are pushed concurrently, whether the momentary
record button is on, whether the conference record button is on,
whether the fast forward button is on, whether the rewind button is
on, and whether the record flag is set. Hence, the result of the
input routine merely is to set the in stop flag.
Returning to the main loop from the input routine, it is assumed
that the battery is not low. Since the microprocessor has just been
brought out of the dormant condition, neither the capstan motor nor
the actuator motor is energized. Also, at this time, a warning tone
is not generated.
Next, since the in stop flag is set, the microprocessor jumps to
the stop routine shown in FIG. 7A. Here, a cue tone is not being
generated and the tone flag, fast forward, rewind, record and play
flags all are reset and the tone counter is reset. The EOT flag is
not set nor is the actuator fail flag set. Since this is the first
cycle through the stop routine, the stop timer is reset and the
capstan motor remains off. It is appreciated that the stop timer
will be incremented during the tone and timer update routine.
Let it be assumed that the disengage pinch roller immediately flag
is not set. Accordingly, inquiry is made as to whether the count of
the stop timer is equal to or greater than five minutes. Since the
stop timer just has been reset, this inquiry is answered in the
negative; and the microprocessor returns to the beginning of the
main loop.
The microprocessor continues to cycle through the tone and timer
update routine, whereby the stop timer is incremented, and through
the tape counter update routine to account for chopper pulses that
may be generated while the tape is "coasting" to a stop. Since the
capstan motor remains off, the EOT timer merely is reset.
Also, each time that the microprocessor cycles through the input
routine, the in stop flag is set; and as the microprocessor
continues through the main loop, the stop routine is carried out.
Thus, during each cycle of the main loop, the stop routine is
executed. If device 10 remains in this stop mode for five minutes,
the inquiry in the stop routine (FIG. 7A) as to whether the stop
timer is greater than or equal to five minutes is answered in the
affirmative and, since the pinch roller has remained disengaged,
the microprocessor returns to its dormant condition.
Let it be assumed that, while the microprocessor cycles through the
main loop to the stop routine, the user operates momentary record
button 24. At the next cycle through the input routine, the in stop
flag is set because none of the in conference, in play and in erase
flags is set. The stop button is not on and it is assumed that two
operating buttons have not been pushed. Since the momentary record
button now is on, all of the "in" flags, are reset, as is the in
stop flag. Thus, when the momentary record button is operated, the
input routine merely serves to reset the in stop flag and to make
sure that no other flags are set.
Returning to the main loop, it is assumed that the energy level of
the battery is not low. The capstan and actuator motors remain
deenergized at this time, and no warning tone is generated. Since
the in stop flag is not set, the disengage pinch roller immediately
flag, whether set or not, is reset. Furthermore, since the EOT flag
is not set but the momentary record button is on, the
microprocessor jumps to the momentary record routine illustrated in
FIGS. 8A-8C.
Proceeding with the momentary record routine, a low record
amplifier gain is set and the record circuitry is enabled. At this
time, the record flag is not yet set. Furthermore, the reverse flag
is not set nor is the pinch roller fully engaged. Accordingly, upon
a negative answer to the inquiry of whether the pinch roller is
fully engaged and a negative answer to the inquiry of whether the
actuator fail flag is set, the actuator motor routine is initiated
(FIG. 7B) to bring the pinch roller into full engagement.
Thereafter, the microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main
loop and continues to cycle through the main loop, the momentary
record routine and the actuator motor routine until the pinch
roller is sensed as being fully engaged. At that time, the actuator
motor is turned off, the actuator flag (which had been set during
the initial cycle through the actuator motor routine) is reset and,
since the change direction flag is not set, the capstan motor is
turned on. Hence, tape is driven in the forward direction to effect
a record operation.
Continuing with the momentary record routine, since the device now
is in its record routine, the record flag is set and the end zone
flag is reset. The microprocessor then returns to the beginning of
the main loop.
If, while cycling through the actuator motor routine, the pinch
roller failed to fully engage the capstan, for example, if a fault
was present in the actuator assembly, the count of the actuator
timer (which is incremented during the tone and timer update
routine) will reach a count that exceeds 2 seconds, thus setting
the actuator fail flag. At the next cycle through the momentary
record routine, the setting of the actuator fail flag will result
in the setting of the in stop flag and the carrying out of the stop
routine. Ultimately, if the device remains in its stop mode, the
dormant condition will be assumed.
As the tone and timer update routine are executed repeatedly, the
respective timers are incremented, as described above. The tone
flag remains reset; and the microprocessor advances from the tone
and timer update routine to the tape counter update routine (FIG.
5A).
Now that tape is advancing, chopper pulse transitions are detected.
As mentioned above, the binary tape count is incremented in
response to each 1/0 and each 0/1 transition. The BCD tape counter,
however, is incremented only in response to the 1/0 transitions.
Nevertheless, the count of the BCD tape counter is sufficient to
provide a somewhat accurate representation of the location of tape;
and this count may be displayed by numerical display 42.
After the tape counters are updated, the EOT timer is reset and the
tape counter update routine then exits and the main loop is
continued.
Once again the input routine is carried out to sense if the
momentary record button remains operated and, if so, to reset the
in stop flag and to prevent other flags from being set. Returning
to the main loop from the input routine, the capstan motor remains
energized and, since the in stop flag is not set and the EOT flag
is not set, the operation of the momentary record button results in
executing the momentary record routine once again.
It is recalled that, in the first cycle of the momentary record
routine, the record flag had not been set but, once the pinch
roller became fully engaged, the record flag was set during the
next cycle of that routine. Now, in subsequent cycles through the
momentary record routine, the inquiry of whether the record flag is
set will be answered in the affirmative.
Proceeding to point A of FIG. 8B, and assuming that neither the
"letter" nor the "instruction" cue flags are set and that the cue
button is not on, the cue stop flag is set and then a comparison is
made between the binary tape count and the cue position count
stored in the addressed location of the letter cue memory. At this
time, however, it may be assumed that the letter cue memory address
has been preset to a "not present" address or, alternatively, the
binary tape count is not equal to whatever cue position count may
be stored in the letter cue memory location now being addressed.
Hence, the inquiry of whether the binary tape count is equal to a
cue position count stored in the addressed cue memory is answered
in the negative. At this time it is further assumed that the binary
tape count is not equal to any stored letter or instruction cue
position count. Accordingly, inquiry next is made as to whether the
last element of bar graph 44 is energized. This inquiry normally
will be answered in the negative until most of the tape has been
consumed. At that time, the tape will have been advanced to its
so-called end zone region.
Let it now be assumed that, during the recording operation, the
tape has been sufficiently advanced so as to reach its end zone
region. When the microprocessor next cycles through the record
routine, the inquiry of whether the last element of the bar graph
display is energized now will be answered in the affirmative. The
next following inquiry of whether the count of the end zone timer
is greater than or equal to fifteen seconds also will be answered
in the affirmative. It is recalled that this timer is incremented
when the microprocessor cycles through the the tone and timer
update routine and, in all probability, will be incremented well
beyond a count of fifteen seconds at the time that the tape reaches
its end zone region. Now, both the end zone timer and the tone
timer are reset and the tone flag is set.
When the main loop reaches the instruction to supply output signals
to the capstan and actuator motors and to the warning tone
generator, the tone flag results in the generation of the warning
tone.
As the microprocessor continues to cycle from the main loop through
the record routine, inquiry is made, at each cycle therethrough, as
to whether the end zone timer is equal to or greater than fifteen
seconds. At the present time, since the end zone timer had just
been reset, this inquiry is answered in the negative. Also, during
each cycle of the microprocessor through the tone and timer update
routine, inquiry is made as to whether the tone flag is set and, if
so, whether the tone timer has been incremented to a count equal to
or greater than one second. When the count of the tone timer is
equal to one second, the tone timer is reset and the tone flag also
is reset. As a result of this resetting of the tone flag, the
warning tone generator is deenergized when the main loop arrives at
the instruction to supply output signals to the warning tone
generator. Hence, when the end zone region is reached, a warning
tone duration of approximately one second is generated.
At subsequent cycles of the microprocessor through the momentary
record routine, now that the last element of the bar graph display
is energized, inquiry again is made as to whether the count of the
end zone timer is equal to or greater than fifteen seconds.
Ultimately, of course, if the last element of the bar graph remains
energized, the end zone timer will be so incremented and, when this
occurs, the end zone timer and tone timer once again are reset and
the tone flag again is set. Hence, when the main loop next supplies
output signals to the warning tone generator, the generator is
turned on once again. Thus, it is seen that, when the tape is
transported to its end zone region, the warning tone generator is
controlled by the tone and timer update routine to generate warning
tones of one second duration, these warning tones recurring at a
rate of one warning tone pulse every fifteen seconds.
Let it be assumed that, while in the record mode, the tape is
transported to its end. When this occurs, the supply reel no longer
rotates and, therefore, chopper pulse transitions no longer are
produced. When the main loop periodically carries out the tape
counter update routine, the inquiries as to whether a 1/0 or 0/1
chopper pulse transition is present both will be answered in the
negative, the inquiry as to whether the EOT flag is set will be
answered in the negative and the inquiry as to whether the capstan
motor is on will be answered in the affirmative. The following
inquiry of whether the count of the EOT timer is equal to or
greater than 3.5 seconds will be answered in the negative during
successive cycles through the tape counter update routine until,
ultimately, the EOT timer is sufficiently incremented during the
tone and timer update routine such that this inquiry ultimately is
answered in the affirmative. Thus, 3.5 seconds after the supply
reel stops, the capstan motor will be turned off, the EOT flag will
be set and the tone counter will be set to a count of ten. Now,
when the main loop next cycles to the tone and timer update
routine, since the count of the tone counter no longer is equal to
zero, the count of the tone timer is monitored to sense when it
becomes equal to or greater than 0.5 seconds. It is expected that
the count of the tone timer will be greater than 0.5 seconds at the
time that the count of the EOT timer exceeds 3.5 seconds. Hence,
during this cycle through the tone and timer update routine, the
tone timer is reset, the tone flag is set and the tone counter now
is decremented from its count of ten to a count of nine.
Assuming that momentary record button 24 remains operated, after
the main loop carries out the input routine, the in stop flag will
be reset; and then the main loop will continue in accordance with
the flow chart shown in FIG. 3. When an output signal is provided
to the warning tone generator, this generator is turned on in
response to the tone flag which had been set during the previous
cycle through the tone and timer update routine. The main loop
continues its programmed set of instructions until inquiry is made
as to whether the EOT flag is set. This inquiry is answered in the
affirmative and, since the count of the tone counter is not equal
to zero, the main loop returns to its beginning so as to cycle once
again through the tone and timer update routine. At the next cycle
of this routine, since the tone flag now is set, inquiry is made as
to whether the count of the tone timer is equal to or greater than
one second. Since the tone timer has just been reset, this inquiry
is answered in the negative. Hence, the warning tone is generated
for a duration of one second, at which time the count of the tone
timer is equal to one second and the tone and timer update routine
then proceeds to reset the tone timer and to reset the tone flag.
The warning tone now is terminated.
Assuming that the momentary record button still remains operated,
at the next cycle through the tone and timer update routine, the
inquiry of whether the tone flag now is set is answered in the
negative and, since the count of the tone counter now is equal to
nine, the inquiry of whether the count of the tone counter is equal
to zero also is answered in the negative. The tone timer has just
been reset and, therefore, the inquiry of whether the count of the
tone timer is equal to or greater than 0.5 seconds also is answered
in the negative. Thus, the warning tone remains turned off for 0.5
seconds. At that time, the inquiry of whether the count of the tone
timer is equal to or greater than 0.5 seconds is answered in the
affirmative, and the tone timer is reset once again, the tone flag
now is set and the count of the tone counter is decremented to a
count of eight. Then, when the main loop reaches the instruction to
supply an output signal to the warning tone generator, the
generator is turned on.
Thus, when the end of tape is reached, for as long as the momentary
record button remains operated, a pulsating warning tone is
produced having an on duration of about one second and an off
duration of about 0.5 seconds. A total of ten warning tone pulses
are produced, if the momentary record button remains operated.
At any time that the momentary record button is released, even if
the tape has been advanced into its end zone region or even if the
end of tape has been reached, the in stop flag will be set by the
input routine, and when the main loop reaches the instruction of
inquiring whether the in stop flag is set, this inquiry will be
answered in the affirmative and the microprocessor then will jump
to the stop routine which has been described above. When in this
stop routine, the tone counter, if set to a count other than zero,
will be reset and the EOT flag, if set, will be reset. Hence, if
the end of tape has been reached, when the momentary record button
is released, the generation of warning tone signals will
terminate.
Now, let it be assumed that, while in the record routine, the user
wishes to record a "letter" cue signal. As shown by the flow chart
of FIGS. 8A and 8B, since the record flag is set, inquiry is made
as to whether any cue flag is set. This inquiry is answered in the
negative; and if cue button 30 is operated, inquiry of whether the
cue button is on is answered in the affirmative. Inquiry now is
made as to whether the cue stop flag is set. It is recalled that,
when the momentary record routine is carried out, the cue stop flag
normally is set if the cue button is not operated. Hence, the
inquiry of whether the cue stop flag is set will be answered in the
affirmative. This cue stop flag then is reset and, proceeding to
point C of FIG. 8C, since neither the "instruction" nor the
"letter" cue flags are set, the microprocessor advances to inquire
if the letter cue memory address is equal to "9". It is assumed
herein that the letter cue memory address has been preset to, for
example, " 0" and that the letter cue counter has been preset to
the same (or corresponding) count. Since the letter cue count is
not greater than the letter cue memory address, the routine shown
in FIG. 8C advances to increment the letter cue memory address
(from "0" to "1") and to set the increment flag. Next, since the
letter cue counter is not equal to "9", it is incremented (from "0"
to "1") and then the tone flag is set, the tone timer is reset and
the letter cue flag is set. The microprocessor then returns to
point B of the flow chart in FIG. 8B.
From point B, inquiry is made as to whether a cue signal is being
recorded. Since it is, the cue generate routine is carried out.
Then, inquiry is made if the binary tape count is equal to a cue
position count now stored in the letter cue memory location which
is addressed by the letter cue memory address generator (e. g.
address "1"). This addressed location has been assumed to be empty,
and the answer to this inquiry is in the negative. It is further
assumed that the binary tape count is not equal to any stored
letter cue position count or any stored instruction cue position
count, and that the last element of the bar graph display is not
energized. Consequently, the microprocessor returns to the
beginning of the main loop.
On cycling through the tone and timer update routine, both the tone
and cue timers are incremented (when, of course, the primary timer
has overflowed) and since the tone flag had been set in the
momentary record routine (FIG. 8C), the inquiry of whether this
flag is set now is answered in the affirmative. Since the count of
the tone timer is less than one second, the tone flag is not reset,
and the microprocessor advances to the tape counter update routine
to increment both the BCD and binary tape counters as tape is
advanced. It is appreciated that, because of this setting of the
tone flag, when the main loop next reaches the instruction to
supply an output signal to the warning tone generator, this
generator will be turned on to apprise the user, by way of the
warning tone, that a cue signal is being recorded.
After exiting the update routines, the main loop ultimately
advances to its input routine. In generating the cue tone, the
momentary record button is operated and, therefore, the input
routine serves to reset the in stop flag. Hence, the main loop now
may continue and, after proceeding from the input routine, may jump
to the momentary record routine.
Following the flow chart shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the record flag
is set and inquiry of whether any cue flag is set is answered in
the affirmative. The cue timer will be reset upon initiating the
cue generate routine, and inquiry of whether the count of the cue
timer is equal to or greater than one second is answered in the
negative. Assuming that the cue button still is on, since the cue
stop flag now is reset, and since a cue signal is being recorded,
the routine advances to the cue generate routine. The
microprocessor then advances to inquire whether the binary tape
count is equal to a cue position count stored in the addressed cue
memory. This inquiry is answered in the negative (it is assumed
that no count has been stored in cue memory location "1") and the
inquiry of whether the binary tape count is equal to any stored
letter cue position count also is answered in the negative. Hence,
the routine advances to inquire if the binary tape count is equal
to any stored instruction cue position count. This too is answered
in the negative, and the microprocessor returns to the beginning of
the main loop.
The microprocessor continues to cycle through the tone and timer
and tape counter update routines, the input routine and the
momentary record routine described above. Eventually, the count of
the cue timer is incremented during the tone and timer update
routines to arrive at a count equal to one second. Then, during the
next cycle through the momentary record routine the inquiry
proceeding from point A (FIG. 8B) of whether any cue flag is set
and whether the count of the cue timer is equal to or greater than
one second are both answered in the affirmative. Hence, the
increment flag (which had been set during the initial cycle through
the flow chart of FIG. 8C) is reset and, since the letter cue
memory address is not full (it now is set to the address "1"), and
since the shift flag is not set, the binary tape count is loaded
into the addressed letter cue memory location (i. e. location "1").
Although the shift flag is not set, it nevertheless is reset. Since
the letter cue flag had been set, it now is reset and, since the
instruction cue flag is not set, the cue timer is reset.
The microprocessor then advances, as shown in FIG. 8B, to answer in
the negative the inquiry of whether a cue signal now is being
recorded (the letter cue flag has been reset), and the inquiry of
whether the binary tape count is equal to the cue position count
stored in the addressed location (location "1") of the cue memory
is answered in the affirmative. Accordingly, the microprocessor
returns to the beginning of the main loop.
During the preceding operation, when the microprocessor cycles
through the update tone and timer routine, inquiry of whether the
tone flag is set is answered in the affirmative and, once the count
of the tone timer reaches one second the tone timer will be reset
and the tone flag will be reset. Hence, the warning tone
terminates.
Thereafter, if the momentary record button remains on, when the
microprocessor next cycles through the momentary record routine,
the record flag still will be set but now the inquiry of whether
any cue flag is set will be answered in the negative. Assuming that
the cue button is not operated once again, the cue stop flag is
set. The momentary record routine continues to proceed in the
manner described above.
Let it now be assumed that, during the record operation, the user
wishes to record an "instruction" cue signal. As mentioned above,
this is achieved by the repeated operation of cue button 30 within
a brief period of time, that is, a period of about one second. Upon
the first operation of the cue button, when the main loop jumps to
the momentary record routine, the inquiry of whether the record
flag is set is answered in the affirmative and, proceeding to point
A of FIG. 8B, the inquiry of whether any cue flag is set is
answered in the negative and the inquiry of whether the cue button
is on is answered in the affirmative. Accordingly, the inquiry of
whether the cue stop flag is set is answered in the affirmative
and, after resetting this cue stop flag, the routine advances to
point C of FIG. 8C and the inquiry of whether the "instruction" cue
flag is set is answered in the negative. Since the "letter" cue
flag is not set at this time, the microprocessor proceeds to
inquire if the letter cue memory address is set at "9" , indicating
that all of the letter cue memory locations are filled. This
inquiry is answered in the negative and, since the letter cue count
is equal to the letter cue memory address, the letter cue memory
address is incremented and the increment flag is set. Assuming
that, until the letter cue memory was just incremented, the letter
cue count and the letter cue memory address were equal, the next
inquiry of whether the letter cue count is set at "9" is answered
in the negative and this cue count is incremented. Then, the tone
flag and letter cue flag are set and the tone timer is reset. The
momentary record routine then advances to point B (FIG. 8B) and the
remainder of this routine is carried out in the manner described
above.
On the next cycle through the main loop, since the tone flag has
just been set a warning tone is generated. The tone flag remains
set for a duration of about one second. At that time, when the
microprocessor cycles through the tone and timer update routine,
the tone flag is reset and the warning tone is terminated.
As before, the binary tape count is updated when the microprocessor
cycles through the tape counter update routine. Thus, as the tape
is transported and the cue signal is recorded, the binary tape
counter is incremented.
After cycling through the input routine (which merely resets the in
stop flag when the record routine is carried out), the main loop
continues to follow the flow chart shown in FIG. 3 and, since the
momentary record button remains on, jumps to the momentary record
routine. Now, since the record flag is set and the "letter" cue
flag is set, the momentary record routine advances to inquire if
the count of the cue timer, which had just been reset during the
cue generate routine, is greater than one second. This inquiry is
answered in the negative and, since the cue button still is on, and
the cue stop flag still is reset, the momentary record routine
continues through the remainder of the flow chart shown in FIG.
8B.
The foregoing cycling through the momentary record routine
continues until the count of the cue timer reaches one second. Let
it be assumed that, at any time before the cue timer count reaches
one second, the cue button is released. When the cue button is
released the cue stop flag is set. At subsequent cycles through the
momentary record routine, the inquiry of whether the record flag is
set is answered in the affirmative, the inquiry of whether any cue
flag is set also is answered in the affirmative, the inquiry of
whether the count of the cue timer is greater than one second is
answered in the negative, and the inquiry of whether the cue button
is on also is answered in the negative. Hence, the cue stop flag
remains set; and the momentary record routine advances through the
illustrated instructions to the beginning of the main loop.
Let it now be assumed that, prior to the time that the count of the
cue timer reaches one second, the cue button is operated once
again. When the momentary record routine next reaches the inquiry
of whether the cue button is on (FIG. 8B), this inquiry is answered
in the affirmative and the inquiry of whether the cue stop flag is
set also is answered in the affirmative. Hence, the cue stop flag
now is reset and, proceeding to point C of FIG. 8C, since the
"instruction" cue flag is not yet set, inquiry is made as to
whether the "letter" cue flag is set. This inquiry is answered in
the affirmative and, since the increment flag had been set during
the preceding cycle through the flow chart of FIG. 8C, the cue
memory address and cue count which had been incremented in
preparation for registering the recording of a letter cue signal
now are decremented to their preceding counts because a letter cue
signal is not recorded. The increment flag then is reset and the
inquiry of whether the instruction cue memory address is set to "9"
is answered in the negative because, it is assumed, that all
available instruction cue memory locations have not yet been
filled. Then, since the instruction cue count is not greater than
the instruction cue memory address (because the tape has not been
reversed past a previously recorded instruction signal), the
instruction cue memory address is incremented to the next
successive location. The instruction cue count is not set at "9"
(which would indicate that the storage capacity of the instruction
cue memory has been reached) and so it too is incremented, and the
cue memory address is changed over from the letter cue memory
address to the instruction cue memory address. Next, the
instruction cue flag is set and the tone counter is preset to a
count of one. Returning next to point B of FIG. 8B, the remaining
instructions are carried out in the manner described above. It will
be appreciated that, at this time, the binary tape count is not
equal to the count stored in the location of the instruction cue
memory now being addressed, nor is that tape count equal to any
stored letter or instruction cue position count. Hence, since the
last element of the bar graph is not energized, the microprocessor
returns to the beginning of the main loop.
When the microprocessor next cycles through the tone and timer
update routine, if the tone flag is reset (it is reset when the
count of the tone timer reaches one second), the inquiry of whether
the count of the tone counter is equal to zero is answered in the
negative (it was set to a count of one in the preceding cycle
through FIG. 8C), and, since the tone timer recently was reset
(when the tone flag was reset), the warning tone is interrupted.
The main loop continues to cycle through the tone and timer update
routine until the count of the tone timer reaches one-half second.
At that time, the tone and timer update routine functions to reset
the tone timer, to set the tone flag and to decrement the tone
counter. The warning tone thus is repeated for another one second
interval, and then is terminated.
During succeeding cycles of the main loop, after the instruction
cue flag has been set, when the microprocessor jumps to the
momentary record routine, the inquiry of whether the count of the
cue timer is equal to or greater than one second (FIG. 8B) will be
answered in the negative (it is reset by the cue generate routine)
until the cue timer times out. While this inquiry is answered in
the negative, the instructions shown in the flow chart of FIG. 8B
are carried out as described above. Once the cue timer reaches a
count of one second, the momentary record routine advances to
inquire if the instruction cue address is full (that is, if the
last available location in the instruction cue memory already has
been addressed). It is assumed that this inquiry is answered in the
negative and, since the shift flag is not set, the binary tape
count is loaded from the binary tape counter into the instruction
cue memory location that now is being addressed. Then, since the
letter cue flag still is set, it now is reset and all of the cue
flags, including the instruction cue flag, are reset. This
completes the cue recording operation and, proceeding with the flow
chart of FIG. 8B, since the count of the binary tape counter now is
equal to the count just loaded into the instruction cue memory, the
microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main loop.
When the cue button is operated repeatedly, two warning tones, each
of one second duration and separated by a silent period of one-half
second, are generated. The first operation of the cue button causes
the tone flag to set, resulting in the generation of the first
warning tone until the tone timer times out (i. e. reaches the
count of one second). The second operation of the cue button
(before the cue timer times out) sets the count of the tone counter
to a count of one and then, when the tone timer (which had been
reset when the first warning tone terminated) reaches the count of
one-half second, the tone counter is decremented and another one
second warning tone is generated. Thus, when the "instruction" cue
signal is recorded, the user is apprised thereof by two successive
warning tone signals, each of approximately one second duration,
the two signals being spaced apart by about one-half second.
If, after recording the "instruction" cue signal in the foregoing
manner, further information is to be recorded on the tape, the
microprocessor cycles through the main loop in the manner described
above, including a jump to the momentary record routine. Here,
since the record flag is set but none of the cue flags are set, the
cue signal indicating operation is not repeated until the next
detection of the operation of cue button 30. So long as this button
is not on, the cue stop flag remains set, inquiry is made as to
whether the binary tape count is equal to the cue position count
stored in the location which remains addressed by the cue memory
address generator and, if not, whether any cue position counts
stored in other cue memory locations are equal to the binary tape
count. Then, if the tape has not yet been transported to its end
zone region (i. e. if the last element of the bar graph is not
energized), the momentary record routine returns to the beginning
of the main loop.
The foregoing description relates to the execution of the momentary
record routine. It will be readily appreciated that the conference
record routine is carried out in substantially the same way and, in
the interest of brevity, this description is not repeated. Of
course, when the conference record routine is carried out, the
record amplifier gain is set at a higher level than when the
momentary record routine is executed. Another difference between
the conference record and momentary record routines is found in the
input routine. When the microprocessor advances through the input
routine, the in conference flag is set upon detecting the operation
of the conference record button. Then, when the microprocessor
returns to the main loop, it jumps to the conference record routine
upon sensing that the in conference flag has been set. Thereafter,
when the microprocessor cycles through the input routine, the in
stop flag is reset and, since the in conference mode has been
established, the in stop flag is not set. Then, after the input
routine is completed, the remainder of the main loop is
followed.
Let it be assumed that, while in the momentary record mode, the
user releases the momentary record button. When the microprocessor
advances to the input routine, the in stop flag first is reset and
then, since the device is not disposed in its conference, play or
erase modes, the in stop flag is set. Continuing with the
instructions of the input routine, the tape is not removed from the
device, the stop button is not on, two operating buttons are not
pushed concurrently, the momentary record button is not on, the
conference record button is not on, the fast forward button is not
on, the rewind button is not on, the record flag is set (from FIG.
8A) but the cue button is not on. Thus, the in stop flag remains
set.
Returning to the main loop, the capstan continues to be driven, the
actuator is not turned on and the warning tone generator is not
turned on. Then, the inquiry of whether the in stop flag is set is
answered in the affirmative; and the microprocessor jumps to the
stop routine. As described above, this stop routine turns off the
capstan motor. Thus, the tape is stopped. If none of the conference
record, momentary record, fast forward and rewind/play buttons is
operated within about five minutes, the actuator motor is energized
to disengage the pinch roller from the capstan and the device then
changes over from its stop mode to its dormant condition, as
mentioned above.
As described previously, the microprocessor cycles periodically
through the conference record routine if the conference button
first has been pushed and then subsequently is released. This is
because the operation of the conference record button sets the in
conference flag, as shown in the input routine (FIG. 6), and since
the in conference flag is set, the in stop flag remains reset in
subsequent cycles through the input routine. Then, in the main
loop, the microprocessor jumps to the conference record routine if
the in conference flag is set. To terminate this record routine,
the stop button should be operated.
Let it be assumed that, while the in conference flag is set (and
the conference record mode is carried out), the stop button is
operated. When the main loop next cycles through the input routine,
the operation of this stop button is detected and, as a result
thereof, all of the "in" flags, including the in conference flag,
are reset. Then, the in stop flag is set and the disengage pinch
roller immediately flag also is set.
Then, the microprocessor exits from the input routine and, when the
main loop arrives at the inquiry of whether the in stop flag is
set, the microprocessor jumps to the stop routine. Hence, the
record mode is terminated and the device is disposed in its stop
mode awaiting the actuation of another control button. If this does
not occur within about five minutes, or if the pinch roller is not
disengaged before the actuator timer reaches a count of two seconds
(FIG. 7B), the device is changed over to its dormant condition.
Let it now be assumed that the user wishes to review some of the
information which he had just recorded. If the device had been
disposed in its momentary record mode, the user first releases the
momentary record button, thus disposing the device in its stop
mode, as just described, and then rewind/play button 28 is
operated. Alternatively, if the device had been operating in its
conference record mode, the user may first operate the stop button
to dispose the device in its stop mode, and then he may operate the
rewind/play button.
The operation of rewind/play button 28 is detected when the
microprocessor advances through its input routine. Upon sensing
that the rewind/play button is on, inquiry is made as to whether
the erase button is on. It is assumed herein that cue/erase button
30 has not been operated and, therefore, this inquiry is answered
in the negative. Accordingly, the in play flag is set and all other
"in" flags are reset. Then, the in stop flag is reset and the
microprocessor exits from the input routine and continues in the
main loop.
When the main loop reaches the instruction of supplying output
signals to the capstan and actuator motors and to the warning tone
generator, the capstan motor remains off and it is assumed that the
actuator motor had been turned off when, during the stop routine,
the pinch roller had been disengaged. At this time, no warning tone
is generated.
Then, since the in stop flag had been reset, the inquiry in the
main loop as to whether the in stop flag is set is answered in the
negative. The disengage pinch roller immediately flag then is reset
and, since the EOT flag is not set, the momentary record button is
not on, the in conference flag is not set and the in erase flag is
not set, the play electronics are enabled and the record
electronics are disabled. Then, the inquiry of whether the rewind
button is on is answered in the affirmative, and the microprocessor
now jumps to the rewind routine, shown in FIG. 9A.
On entering the rewind routine, the rewind, reverse and change
direction flags all are not set at this time. Accordingly, the
change direction flag now is set, the change direction timer is
reset and the EOT timer also is reset. Then, inquiry is made as to
whether the pinch roller is partially engaged. If it is not, and if
the actuator fail flag is not set, the fast forward, rewind, record
and play flags all are reset, the capstan motor remains off and the
actuator motor routine is carried out. The rewind routine then
exits to the beginning of the main loop.
During the tone and timer update routine executed periodically by
the main loop, the change direction timer is incremented and the
tape counters now are not changed because the tape remains
stationary (the capstan motor had been turned off).
When the microprocessor advances to the input routine, the
continued operation of the rewind button is detected, and the in
play flag remains set. All of the other "in" flags (e. g. the in
stop, in conference and in erase flags) remain reset. Once again,
the microprocessor resets the in stop flag, and the main loop then
is re-entered.
When the main loop arrives at the output signal instruction, the
capstan motor remains off and the actuator motor now is turned on
(as commanded by the actuator motor routine). Then, continuing with
the instructions shown in FIG. 3, the microprocessor ultimately
jumps to the rewind routine.
Returning to FIG. 9A, both the rewind and reverse flags still have
not been set; but the change direction flag is set. If the pinch
roller still has not reached its partially engaged position but the
actuator timer has not timed out to set the actuator fail flag, the
fast forward, rewind, record and play flags remain reset, the
capstan remains off and the actuator remains on. The microprocessor
then returns to the main loop and the foregoing cycle of
instructions is repeated.
Eventually, assuming proper operation of the actuator mechanism,
when the microprocessor cycles to the rewind routine, the inquiry
of whether the pinch roller is partially engaged is answered in the
affirmative. Then, all cue flags are reset, the fast forward,
rewind, record and play flags also are reset, the actuator motor is
turned off and the actuator flag is reset (not shown). It is
appreciated that, in the present example, the resetting of the
aforementioned cue, fast forward, rewind, record and play flags is
a redundant operation.
Next, the inquiry of whether the change direction flag is set now
is answered in the affirmative. But, since the change direction
timer had been recently reset, the inquiry of whether the count of
this timer is equal to or greater than 0.5 seconds is answered in
the negative. Consequently, the rewind routine exits to the
beginning of the main loop.
The microprocessor continues to cycle through the rewind routine,
as described above, until the count of the change direction timer
reaches 0.5 seconds. At that time, the change direction flag is
reset, the reverse and rewind flags both are set, a capstan reverse
signal is set and the underflow counter is reset. Thus, device 10
now is conditioned for a rewind operation.
On returning to the beginning of the main loop, the microprocessor
executes the tone and timer update routine and also the tape
counter routine. It is appreciated that the capstan is not driven
until the main loop arrives at the output signal instruction,
whereupon the capstan motor is energized for high speed reverse
movement.
When the input routine next is carried out, since the rewind button
is on but the erase button is not, the in play flag remains set and
the in stop flag remains reset. The microprocessor then returns to
the main loop and, after following the instructions shown in FIG. 3
and described above, jumps to the rewind routine. From FIG. 9A it
is seen that, since the rewind flag now is set, the capstan reverse
signal remains set and, since the in erase flag is not set, the
microprocessor advances to the cue pause routine. This routine is
shown in FIG. 10 and will be described below. Briefly, it should be
pointed out that the purpose of the cue pause routine is to detect
when the tape has been advanced to a location at which a cue signal
had been recorded, whereupon further movement of the tape is
temporarily interrupted. That is, the tape "pauses" at this
location. If the tape has not reached a location at which a cue
signal has been recorded, the cue pause routine exits to the
beginning of the main loop.
During subsequent cycles of the microprocessor through the rewind
routine, the tape continues to be driven reversely for so long as
the rewind flag is set. As the tape is so driven, the BCD and
binary tape counters are decremented during the tape counter update
routines; and the underflow counter is incremented. As mentioned
above, if the tape should break during the rewind operation, the
underflow counter eventually will be incremented beyond a threshold
value; and this is sensed by the tape counter update routine to
turn off the capstan, set the EOT flag and set the tone counter to
a count of ten. The user is apprised accordingly.
Let it now be assumed that the rewind/play button is released. Upon
the next cycle through the input routine, the in stop flag remains
reset because the inquiry of whether the in play flag is set is
answered in the affirmative. Proceeding with the input routine, the
tape has not been removed, the stop button is not on, two operating
buttons are not pushed concurrently, the momentary record button is
not on, the conference record button is not on, the fast forward
button is not on, the rewind button is not on and the record flag
is not set. The microprocessor then returns to the main loop with
the in stop flag reset.
Proceeding with the main loop shown in FIG. 3, output signals are
supplied to the capstan and actuator motors and to the warning tone
generators. The capstan motor remains energized in the reverse
direction, the actuator motor remains off and the warning tone
generator also remains off. Then, since the in stop flag is not
set, the EOT flag is not set, the momentary record button is not
on, the in conference flag is not set, the in erase flag is not set
and the rewind button has been released, inquiry is made as to
whether the in play flag is set. This inquiry is answered in the
affirmative and, therefore, the microprocessor jumps to the play
routine shown diagrammatically in FIG. 10.
On entering the play routine, inquiry is made as to whether the
play flag is set. Although the in play flag is set, the play flag
is not. Thus, the play routine advances to point D of the record
routine shown in FIG. 8A. At this time, the reverse flag is set but
the change direction flag had been reset in the rewind routine
after the count of the change direction timer reached 0.5 seconds.
Since the change direction flag is not set, the next step is to set
this flag and to reset both the change direction timer and the EOT
timer. Then, inquiry is made as to whether the pinch roller is
fully engaged. Since the preceding operating mode of the device had
been the rewind mode wherein the pinch roller was only partially
engaged, this inquiry is answered in the negative. Accordingly,
assuming the actuator fail flag is not set, the actuator motor
routine now is carried out, the play, fast forward, rewind, record
and in erase flags are reset and the capstan motor is turned off.
The microprocessor then returns to the beginning of the main
loop.
The main loop and input routines are executed again in the manner
described above; and when the main loop reaches the inquiry of
whether the in play flag is set, this inquiry once again is
answered in the affirmative. Hence, the microprocessor jumps once
again to the play routine (FIG. 10) but, since the play flag still
has not yet been set, the play routine advances to point D of the
record routine (FIG. 8A).
The foregoing cycle of the microprocessor from the main loop to the
rewind routine and then to point D of the record routine continues
until the pinch roller is fully engaged (or until the actuator fail
flag is set). At that time, when the play routine advances to point
D of the record routine, since the reverse flag is set, the change
direction flag is set and the pinch roller is fully engaged, the
actuator motor is turned off and the actuator fail flag is reset.
Then, inquiry of whether the change direction flag is set is
answered in the affirmative but, since the change direction timer
had been recently reset, the inquiry of whether the count of this
timer is equal to or greater than 0.5 seconds is answered in the
negative. Hence, the microprocessor returns to the beginning of the
main loop.
The foregoing cycle of instructions is repeated until the count of
the change direction counter reaches 0.5 seconds. At that time, the
change direction flag is reset and the reverse flag also is reset.
Then, the capstan is turned on and all cue flags are reset. This
latter instruction is redundant in the present operation. Next,
since the device is not disposed in its record routine, the play
flag is set and the fast forward, rewind and record flags all are
reset. The microprocessor then returns to the main loop.
Upon the next cycle of the microprocessor through the main loop to
the play routine, the inquiry of whether the play flag is set is
answered in the affirmative. Accordingly, the capstan motor remains
on. If the fast forward button is not operated at this time, the
play flag remains set and the fast forward, rewind and record flags
all remain reset. The play routine then returns to the beginning of
the main loop; and the foregoing cycle of instructions is
repeated.
Thus, it is seen, upon release of the rewind/play button, a pause
routine having a duration of about 0.5 seconds is carried out, and
then the device is disposed in its playback mode. The purpose of
the pause routine is to avoid a sudden reversal in the energization
of the capstan motor which could damage that motor and could break
the tape and also insures the registration of chopper pulse
transitions in the proper direction that may be generated as the
tape is brought to a stop.
The play routine continues until the stop button, fast forward
button, rewind button, momentary record button or conference button
is operated. Let it be assumed that, while in the playback mode,
the fast forward button is operated. The operation of the fast
forward button is sensed when the microprocessor executes its input
routine (FIG. 6), in which the in stop flag is reset (which, in
this mode, is a redundant operation), the inquiry of whether the in
play flag is set is answered in the affirmative, and the inquiries
of whether tape has been removed, whether the stop button is on,
whether two operating buttons are pushed concurrently, whether the
momentary record button or the conference button are on all are
answered in the negative. Since the fast forward button is on, the
in conference and in erase flags are reset, the in stop flag
remains reset and the input routine returns to the main loop. If
the energy level of the battery is not low, the capstan motor
continues to be energized, the actuator motor remains off and the
warning tone generator also remains off. The main loop continues
through the remaining instructions and the inquiry of whether the
in play flag is set is answered in the affirmative. It is seen
that, even though the fast forward button is on, the in play flag
has not been reset. Accordingly, the main loop jumps to the play
routine (FIG. 10).
Since the play flag is set, the capstan motor remains on and the
inquiry of whether the fast forward button is on now is answered in
the affirmative. Accordingly, the fast forward flag is set and a
fast forward signal is conditioned to be supplied to the capstan
motor to override the play speed signal. Thereafter, the
microprocessor advances to the cue pause routine.
The cue pause routine will be described in detail below. Suffice it
to say that if the location of a cue signal has not been reached,
the microprocessor returns to the beginning of the main loop. Then,
after the tone and timer update routine and the tape counter update
routine, the input routine is carried out once again. The input
routine advances to the inquiry of whether the fast forward button
is on. This inquiry is answered in the affirmative, thus resetting
the in stop flag, and the input routine exits to continue with the
main loop. Thus, the play, the in play and the fast forward flags
will remain set.
The microprocessor continues to cycle through the aforedescribed
instructions, resulting in the fast forward operation for so long
as the fast forward button remains operated. When this button is
released, the fast forward flag is reset during the next cycle
through the play routine (FIG. 10).
If, while in the playback mode, the user wishes to review
previously recorded material once again, the rewind button is
operated. The operation of the rewind button is sensed during the
next cycle through the input routine, resulting in the play and in
play flags remaining set.
When the microprocessor returns to continue with the main loop, the
inquiry of whether the rewind button is on ultimately is reached,
and this inquiry is answered in the affirmative, whereupon the
microprocessor jumps to the rewind routine.
The flow chart illustrated in FIG. 9A is followed once again. At
this time, the rewind, reverse and change direction flags all are
reset. Hence, as described above, first the capstan motor is turned
off, then the actuator motor routine is initiated to dispose the
pinch roller in its partially engaged position. Then, while the
pinch roller is being brought into proper position, a pause
operation is carried out until the change direction timer is
incremented from a reset count to a count equal to 0.5 seconds, and
then the capstan motor is reversely energized and the rewind and
reverse flags are set so as to dispose the device in its rewind
mode.
Let it be assumed that device 10 has been disposed in its stop mode
and then fast forward button 34 is operated. It is recalled that,
when the stop routine is executed in response to the operation of
the stop button, all of the "in" flags, including the in play, in
conference and in erase flags, are reset. Now, operation of the
fast forward button is sensed during the next cycle of the
microprocessor through the input routine. As a result of the
operation of this button, the in stop flag is reset and the input
routine returns to the main loop.
Proceeding with the instructions shown in FIG. 3, if the energy
level of the battery is not low, output signals are supplied to the
capstan motor (to keep it off), the actuator motor (to keep it off)
and the warning tone generator (also to keep it off). Then, since
the in stop flag is not set, the EOT flag is not set, the momentary
record button is not on, the in conference flag is not set, the in
erase flag is not set, the rewind button is not on and the in play
flag is not set, the main loop jumps to the fast forward routine
shown in FIG. 11.
Here, it is assumed that the fast forward flag is not yet set. If
the reverse flag had been set, as when the user operates the rewind
button and thereafter operates the fast forward button, a pause
routine is carried out so as to temporarily stop the capstan motor
and then, after a delay of about 0.5 seconds, the reverse flag is
reset and the fast forward flag is set. This is shown schematically
in FIG. 11. For the purpose of the present description, it is
assumed that the reverse flag is not set and that the pinch roller
is not partially engaged. It is recognized that, when the device
had been disposed in its stop mode, the pinch roller had been fully
disengaged.
Accordingly, since the pinch roller is not partially engaged (and
the actuator fail flag is assumed not to be set), the fast forward,
rewind, record and play flags all are reset, the capstan motor is
turned off (in this instance it is kept off) and the actuator motor
routine is initiated. The fast forward routine then exits to the
beginning of the main loop.
The microprocessor cycles from the main loop through the input
routine and then through the fast forward routine until the pinch
roller is sensed as being partially engaged. At that time, and as
shown in FIG. 11, the actuator flag is reset (to turn off the
actuator motor), the cue flags all are reset, the fast forward,
rewind, record and play flags remain reset and the actuator motor
now is turned off. Then, if the change direction flag is not set,
that is, if the aforementioned pause routine is not necessary, the
fast forward flag is set. An output signal then is conditioned to
be supplied to the capstan motor to drive it in the fast forward
mode. Thereafter, the fast forward routine proceeds to the cue
pause routine shown in FIG. 10. As mentioned above, and as will be
described below, the cue pause routine functions to sense when the
tape has been transported to the location at which a cue signal is
recorded and, if so, to pause temporarily thereat. After the cue
pause routine is carried out, the microprocessor returns to the
beginning of the main loop.
It is appreciated that the microprocessor continues to cycle
through the main loop, including the tone and timer update routine
and the tape counter update routine, through the input routine and
then through the fast forward routine. Hence, for so long as the
fast forward button remains operated, the tape is driven in the
fast forward direction.
From the description of FIGS. 10 and 11, it is seen that if the
fast forward button is operated while device 10 is disposed in its
play mode the pinch roller remains engaged with the capstan which
is accelerated to drive the tape at a faster-than-play speed. But,
if the device had been disposed in its inactive, or stop mode, for
example, prior to the operation of the fast forward button, the
pinch roller merely partially engages the capstan to enable the
tape to be driven at a higher speed.
Let it now be assumed that, while the device is operated in its
rewind or fast forward mode, the tape is transported to the
location at which a cue signal is recorded. The cue pause routine
shown in FIG. 10 then is carried out. It is appreciated that the
rewind routine shown in FIG. 9A advances to the cue pause routine
if the rewind flag is set but the in erase flag is not, that the
play routine (FIG. 10) advances to the cue pause routine if the
play flag is set and the fast forward button is operated, and that
the fast forward routine (FIG. 11) advances to the cue pause
routine after the signal to set the capstan motor in its fast
forward mode is produced.
Turning to FIG. 10, the cue pause routine is executed when the fast
forward or rewind flags are set (the latter also being accompanied
by the in erase flag being reset). In this cue pause routine,
inquiry first is made as to whether the cue pause flag is set. If
not, inquiry next is made as to whether the count of the binary
tape counter is equal to any letter cue position count that is
stored in the "letter" section of the cue memory. If not, inquiry
is made as to whether the count of the binary tape counter is equal
to any instruction cue position count that is stored in the
"instruction" section of the cue memory. If this inquiry also is
answered in the negative, the microprocessor returns to the
beginning of the main loop.
The microprocessor cycles through this portion of the cue pause
routine during rewind and fast forward modes until the count of the
binary tape counter is equal to a cue position count stored in the
"letter" or "instruction" sections of the cue memory. This
coincidence occurs when the tape is transported to the location at
which the "letter" or "instruction" cue signal had been recorded
during the record mode, described above. When the binary tape count
is equal to a stored cue position count, the cue pause flag is set
and a pause timer is reset. If the stored cue position count
happens to be an instruction cue position count, the indication
INSTR is displayed and, additionally, the number of that
instruction (e.g. the instruction cue memory address) also is
displayed by numerical display 42. Then, the capstan motor is
turned off.
Upon returning to the main loop, the pause timer is incremented
during the tone and timer update routine. When the main loop
advances to the input routine, the in stop flag remains reset if
the fast forward or rewind button is operated. Then, when the main
loop continues through its set of instructions shown in FIG. 3 and
then jumps either to the rewind or fast forward routines, the cue
pause routine is carried out thereafter, as shown by the flow
charts of FIGS. 9A and 11.
Now, in the cue pause routine, since the cue pause flag is set,
inquiry is made as to whether the count of the pause timer is equal
to or greater than one second. If not, the capstan motor remains
off and the microprocessor continues to recycle through the main
loop, the rewind or fast forward routine and then the cue pause
routine, until the count of the pause timer reaches one second. At
that time, inquiry is made as to whether the count of the binary
tape counter is equal to a stored cue position count. If it is, the
cue pause flag remains set and the microprocessor continues to
recycle through the aforedescribed routines. It should be
appreciated that, prior to the time that the count of the pause
timer reaches one second, the capstan motor is turned off during
the cue pause routine even though, prior to entering the cue pause
routine, the capstan motor had been set either in its reverse mode
(as in the rewind routine of FIG. 9A) or the fast forward mode (as
in the fast forward routine of FIG. 11). Although the capstan motor
is preliminarily conditioned to operate in its reverse or fast
forward modes by the appropriate instructions found in the rewind
and fast forward routines, respectively, these instructions are
overridden and the capstan motor is turned off by the cue pause
routine. However, once the count of the pause timer reaches one
second, the preliminary conditioning of the capstan motor to
operate in the rewind or fast forward modes is not overridden.
Hence, if the count of the pause timer is equal to or greater than
one second, the main loop eventually supplies to the capstan motor
either the reverse signal or the fast forward signal (if the fast
forward or rewind button remains operated) so as to move the tape.
Then, during subsequent cycles through the cue pause routine, the
inquiry of whether the binary tape count is equal to a stored cue
position count will be answered in the negative (until the next cue
signal location is reached); and the cue pause flag will be
reset.
From the preceding description, it is seen that, during a fast
forward or rewind mode, whenever the tape has been transported to
the location at which a cue signal had been recorded, that is,
whenever the binary tape counter reaches a count that is equal to a
stored letter or instruction cue position count, the capstan motor
is turned off for a brief duration on the order of about one
second. This apprises the user that the tape has reached a "letter"
or "instruction" signal.
Now let it be assumed that the user wishes to erase information
which he has previously recorded on the tape. This is achieved by
operating rewind/play button 28 concurrently with cue/erase button
30. This may be done by operating the rewind/play button first and
then, at a later time, operating the cue/erase button (referred to
in the following description as the erase button), or by operating
both buttons simultaneously.
The operation of the rewind button is sensed when the
microprocessor executes its input routine, and the main loop
eventually jumps to the rewind routine regardless of whether the
erase button is operated. The rewind routine is diagrammatically
represented in FIG. 9A and, as described above, a pause having a
duration on the order of about 0.5 seconds is instituted upon the
operation of the rewind button. As described above, when the rewind
routine first is executed, the change direction flag is set and the
change direction timer is reset. The capstan motor is turned off
until the pinch roller is properly positioned and the count of the
change direction timer reaches 0.5 seconds. At that time, the
reverse and rewind flags are set and the capstan reverse drive
signal is produced. When the main loop reaches the instruction at
which the output signal is supplied to the capstan motor, this
capstan reverse signal is supplied thereto. Thus, a delay of about
0.5 seconds is imparted upon the operation of the rewind button
until the tape actually is driven in the reverse direction.
When the erase button is operated, the input routine senses this to
set the in erase flag and reset all of the other "in" flags. It is
recalled that the in play flag is set when the rewind button is
operated; and this flag now is reset when the erase button is
operated.
After the input routine is carried out, the main loop proceeds in
accordance with the instructions shown in FIG. 3. The inquiry of
whether the in erase flag is set is answered in the affirmative and
the main loop jumps to the rewind routine.
As shown in FIG. 9A, since the rewind and in erase flags now are
both set, the DC erase circuitry is enabled. This disposes such
circuitry in condition to erase the information on the magnetic
tape.
Next, the cue erase routine represented by the flow chart of FIG.
9B is carried out, wherein inquiry is made as to whether the count
of the binary tape counter is equal to any stored letter cue
position count. If this inquiry is answered in the affirmative, the
cue erase routine advances to inquire if the count of the letter
cue counter is greater than the letter cue memory address then
being generated plus one (+1). From the reverse cue position
routine represented by the flow chart of FIG. 5C, it is seen that,
although the letter cue count normally corresponds with (e.g. is
equal to) the letter cue memory address, when the tape is reversed
the letter cue memory address is decremented whenever a previously
recorded letter cue signal is reached. Hence, it is expected that
during a rewind operation, when that previously recorded letter cue
signal is encountered, the letter cue memory address will be
decremented to be one less than the letter cue count. Therefore,
when the binary tape count becomes equal to a stored letter cue
position count, the letter cue count normally will be equal to the
present letter cue memory address +1, and this inquiry will be
answered in the negative. Then, the last (or highest occupied)
letter cue location of the cue memory is cleared and the letter cue
counter is decremented to a count that corresponds with (e.g. is
equal to) the letter cue memory address. This effectively erases
the last-recorded letter cue signal information (that is, the
position count of that last-recorded letter cue signal) from the
cue memory.
However, if a letter cue signal had been inserted between two
previously-recorded letter cue signals, as when a
previously-recorded letter is modified, whereby it is completed
sooner than its original completion, the count of the letter cue
counter may register, for example, "7" but, because of the revision
to the previously-recorded letter, the letter cue memory address
may be set to, for example, "5". This is described in detail below.
In any event, if the tape is in the process of being erased before
it had been sufficiently advanced to the position by which the
letter cue count and the letter cue memory address are equal, the
inquiry of whether the count of the letter cue count (e.g. "7") is
greater than the letter cue memory address (e.g. "5") +1 will be
answered in the affirmative. At that time, the cue erase routine
advances to shift the position counts in those locations of the
letter cue memory that are greater than the letter cue memory
address +1 (that is, the position counts stored at letter cue
memory locations "7" and above) down by one location. Then the
position count stored in the highest-occupied location is cleared
and the letter cue counter is decremented.
After the foregoing operation is completed, or if the binary tape
count is not equal to any position count stored in the letter cue
memory, inquiry is made to determine if the binary tape count is
equal to any cue position stored in the instruction cue memory. The
steps following this inquiry are quite similar to those described
above with respect to the erasing of letter cue position counts
and, in the interest of brevity, such steps are not described
again.
Thus, as the tape is rewound, the binary tape count is continually
compared to the stored letter and instruction cue position counts
and the latter are erased when a positive comparison obtains. The
microprocessor then returns to the rewind routine and inquires
whether the count of the erase timer is equal to or greater than
four seconds. Since the erase timer is incremented during the tone
and timer update routine, it is expected that, normally, this
inquiry will be answered in the affirmative. Accordingly, the erase
timer and tone timer both are reset and the tone flag is set. The
rewind routine then returns to the beginning of the main loop.
When the microprocessor proceeds to the tone and timer update
routine, since the tone flag now is set and the tone timer is not
equal to one second, the warning tone is generated for a one second
duration. This tone actually is produced when the main loop reaches
the instruction to supply an output signal to the warning tone
generator.
The microprocessor continues to cycle through the input routine,
the remaining instructions illustrated in FIG. 3 of the main loop
and then through the rewind routine. Since the in erase flag
remains set, the DC erase operation continues and the cue memory is
cleared of those letter and instruction cue position counts which
are equal to the present binary tape count.
From the tone and timer update routine, it is appreciated that the
warning tone is generated until the count of the tone timer reaches
one second, whereupon the tone timer is reset, as is the tone
flag.
The main loop continues through the input routine, the various
instructions illustrated in FIG. 3 and then jumps to the rewind
routine of FIG. 9A. This recycling of the microprocessor continues
until, during the rewind routine, the count of the erase timer
reaches four seconds. At that time, the erase timer is reset once
again, the tone timer also is reset and the tone flag is set.
Hence, another tone of one second duration is generated.
From the foregoing, it is seen that, for so long as the in erase
flag is set, successive warning tone pulses are generated, each
pulse having a duration of about one second with successive pulses
being spaced apart by about three seconds.
It will be seen from the input routine of FIG. 6 that the erase
operation is carried out even if the erase button or the rewind
button is released. This is because, after the in stop flag is
reset, the inquiry of whether the in conference or in play or in
erase flags are set is answered in the affirmative, and the
inquiries of whether the tape has been removed, whether the stop
button is on, whether two operating buttons are pushed
concurrently, whether the momentary record button is on, whether
the conference record button is on, whether the fast forward button
is on, whether the rewind button is on and whether the record flag
is set all are answered in the negative. Hence, the in stop flag
remains reset. When the input routine returns to the main loop, the
inquiry of whether the in stop flag is set is answered in the
negative and, since the EOT flag is not set, the momentary record
button is not on and the in conference flag is not set, inquiry is
made as to whether the in erase flag is set. This inquiry is
answered in the affirmative and the microprocessor jumps to the
rewind routine. Thus, to terminate the erase operation, stop button
26 should be operated.
Let it now be assumed that, after recording a number of messages,
or letters, some of which have specific instructions recorded
therein as indicated by the recording of instruction cue signals,
the user wishes to revise the information that he had recorded. Let
it be further assumed that, as a numerical example, seven letters
have been recorded and three instructions also have been recorded.
Hence, seven letter cue signals and three instruction cue signals
are recorded, and the present count of the letter cue counter is
equal to "7", the present letter cue memory address is set to "7",
the present count of the instruction cue counter is equal to "3"
and the present instruction cue memory address also is set to "3".
The user interrupts his dictation of the next message, or letter
(i.e. the eighth letter), by operating rewind/play button 28.
Accordingly, the rewind mode is established in the manner described
in detail hereinabove, and the tape now is rewound.
With the rewinding of the tape, as the microprocessor cycles
through the tape counter update routine, both the BCD and binary
tape counters are decremented in response to each 1/0 chopper pulse
transition, and the binary tape counter is additionally decremented
in response to each 0/1 chopper pulse transition. After
decrementing the binary tape counter (FIG. 5A), the reverse cue
position routine (FIG. 5C) is carried out. When the tape is
sufficiently rewound such that the count of the binary tape counter
is equal to the letter cue position count stored in letter cue
memory location "7" (i.e. the end of the seventh letter, or
message, is reached), the inquiry of whether the binary tape count
is equal to any stored letter cue position count will be answered
in the affirmative. Hence, the letter cue memory address is
decremented from "7" to "6". The next following inquiry of whether
the binary tape count is equal to any stored instruction cue
position count is assumed to be answered in the negative. Hence,
the reverse cue position routine exits to complete the remaining
instructions of the tape counter update routine which, upon its
completion, returns to the main loop.
It is recalled, from the foregoing discussion of the rewind
routine, that the tape continues to be driven in the reverse
direction for so long as the rewind button remains operated. Let it
be assumed that, prior to reaching the next preceding letter cue
signal (stored in location "6"), the rewind button is released,
thus disposing device 10 in its playback mode, as discussed above.
Let it be further assumed that, after reviewing a portion of this
previously recorded message (the seventh letter), the user now
wishes to modify that letter. Accordingly, momentary record button
24 (or conference record button 22) may be operated to dispose the
device in its record mode. After the record flag is set in
accordance with the flow chart shown in FIG. 8A, the next cycle of
the microprocessor through the record routine results in carrying
out the instructions represented by the flow chart shown in FIG.
8B. Commencing from point A in this flow chart, the inquiry of
whether the cue flag is set is answered in the negative, the
inquiry of whether the cue button is on also is answered in the
negative, the inquiry of whether any cue signals are being recorded
likewise is answered in the negative and the inquiry of whether the
binary tape count is equal to the count stored in the letter cue
memory now being addressed (e.g. address "6") also is answered in
the negative. At this time, it is assumed that the user is revising
letter "7" and, thus, the inquiry of whether the binary tape count
is equal to any stored letter cue position count is answered in the
negative. The next inquiry of whether the binary tape count is
equal to any stored instruction cue position count also is answered
in the negative and, since the tenth element of the bar graph is
not energized, the microprocessor returns to the beginning of the
main loop.
The foregoing cycle is repeated until, ultimately, the location on
the tape at which the end of letter "7" had been recorded is
reached. At that time, when the tape counter update routine cycles
through the forward cue position routine (FIG. 5B), the inquiry of
whether the binary tape count is equal to the stored letter cue
position count is answered in the affirmative. That is, the binary
tape count now is equal to the cue position count stored at letter
cue memory location "7". Hence, the letter cue memory address is
incremented from its count of "6" to the count of "7". Assuming
that the binary tape count is not equal to any stored instruction
cue position count, the forward cue position routine exits and the
tape counter update routine is completed. The main loop continues,
through the input routine and through the remaining steps
illustrated in FIG. 3, to carry out the record routine. When the
flow chart shown in FIG. 8B is executed, the inquiry of whether the
binary tape count is equal to any stored letter cue position count
ultimately will be made, and this inquiry now will be answered in
the affirmative. Since the letter cue memory address had been
incremented to the count of "7", the inquiry of whether the letter
cue counter is greater than the letter cue memory address now is
answered in the negative (it is recalled that the letter cue
counter had been assumed to be set to a count of "7"). Hence, the
last, or highest occupied, letter cue memory location is cleared,
thus clearing the position count from letter cue memory location
"7", and both the letter cue counter and letter cue memory address
are decremented to the count of "6". This effectively erases the
seventh letter cue signal information from the letter cue memory as
is proper because new information has been recorded over this
previously recorded letter cue signal.
It is assumed that the binary tape count is not equal to any stored
instruction cue position count and, thus, the flow chart ultimately
returns to the beginning of the main loop.
In the foregoing example, it had been assumed that letter "7" had
been revised. Let it now be assumed that the user reverses the tape
still further such that the letter cue memory address is
decremented further to a count of "5" and then still further is
decremented to a count of "4" by operation of the reverse cue
position routine. Let it be further assumed that the instruction
cue memory address is decremented, by the reverse cue position
routine, from its count of "3" to a count of "2" and then to a
count of "1". This means that the user now is revising letter "5".
Here again, it is assumed that rewind/play button 28 is released
and momentary record button 24 is operated. In the manner described
above, the record routine is carried out and the record mode is
initiated. Accordingly, the tape counter update routine, including
the forward cue position routine, is carried out, and the record
routine shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B also is carried out.
If the user records over the location at which the second
instruction cue signal had been recorded, the forward cue position
routine increments the instruction cue memory address to the count
of "2", and the flow chart shown in FIG. 8B, commencing with point
A, is carried out. Since no cue flag is set, the cue button is not
on, cue signals are not being recorded, the binary tape count is
not equal to the count stored in the location now addressed in the
cue memory, and the binary tape count is not equal to any stored
letter cue position count, the microprocessor advances to inquire
if the binary tape count is equal to any stored instruction cue
position count. It is assumed, at this time, that the second
instruction cue signal has been reached and, thus, the binary tape
count now is equal to the instruction cue position count stored at
instruction cue memory location "2". Hence, this inquiry is
answered in the affirmative. The next inquiry of whether the
instruction cue counter is greater than the instruction cue memory
address also is answered in the affirmative, because it is assumed
that the instruction cue count is equal to a count of 3. Hence, all
instruction cue position counts that are stored in instruction cue
memory locations which are greater than the present instruction cue
memory address, that is, all instruction cue position counts stored
at locations "3" and higher, are shifted down in the instruction
cue memory by one location. That is, the cue position count stored
in instruction cue memory location "3" is shifted into instruction
cue memory location "2", thus replacing the instruction cue
position count that had been stored at location "2". Then, the
instruction cue position count stored in the last, or highest
instruction cue memory location, that is, the position count stored
at location "3" is cleared. Thereafter, the instruction cue counter
is decremented from its count of "3" to the count of "2", and the
instruction cue memory address is decremented from its count of "2"
to the count of "1". Subsequently, the record routine returns to
the beginning of the main loop.
As the user continues to record new information, that is, as the
fifth letter continues to be revised, the location on the tape at
which the fifth letter cue signal had been recorded is reached. At
that time, the forward cue position routine (FIG. 5B) increments
the letter cue memory address from its count of "4" to the count of
"5". Assuming that no instruction cue signal had been recorded at
this location, inquiry of whether the binary tape count is equal to
any stored instruction cue position count is answered in the
negative. The forward cue position routine thus exits and the tape
counter update routine continues to be carried out.
When the record routine next is carried out, the microprocessor
cycles through the flow chart shown in FIG. 8B. Ultimately, inquiry
is made as to whether the binary tape count is equal to any stored
letter cue position count. Since it is assumed that the binary tape
has been advanced to the position at which the fifth letter cue
position count had been recorded, this inquiry is answered in the
affirmative. The next inquiry of whether the cue counter (set to
the count of "7") is greater than the letter cue memory address
(now set to the count of "5") also is answered in the affirmative.
Hence, all cue position counts that are stored in letter cue memory
locations greater than or equal to the present letter cue memory
address, that is, those position counts stored at locations "7",
"6" and "5" are shifted down one location, and the position count
that had been stored at location "5" is discarded. Hence, the cue
position counts stored at locations "7" and "6" are shifted into
locations "6" and "5", respectively. Then, the position count
stored in the last, or highest cue memory location, that is, the
position count stored in location "7", is cleared. The cue counter
then is decremented from its count of "7" to the count of "6", and
the cue memory address is decremented from its count of "5" to the
count of "4".
The foregoing operation is repeated each time that the tape
advances to the location of a letter cue signal or the location of
an instruction cue signal over which additional information is
being recorded by the user. Hence, the cue memory is cleared of
information relating to previously recorded letter and instruction
cue signals when those signals are effectively erased by new
information recorded thereover.
Let it now be assumed, consistent with the foregoing numerical
example, that after seven letters and three instructions had been
recorded, a modification is made to, for example, letter "5" such
that this letter is shortened. This means that a letter cue signal
(indicating the end of the fifth letter) is recorded before the
previously recorded fifth letter cue signal is reached, and thus is
inserted between the previously-recorded fifth letter cue signal
and the previously-recorded fourth letter cue signal.
As described above, when the tape is rewound, the reverse cue
position routine (FIG. 5C) operates to decrement the letter cue
memory address and the instruction cue memory address each time a
letter or instruction cue signal, respectively, is encountered.
This has been discussed in detail hereinabove and, in the interest
of brevity, is not repeated here. Thus, consistent with the
previously described example, assuming that the tape has been
rewound to enable the user to revise letter "5", the count of the
letter cue memory address now is set to "4", the count of the
letter cue counter remains set at "7", the count of the instruction
cue memory address is set at "1" and the count of the instruction
cue counter is set at "3".
After the user has modified letter "5" to his satisfaction, and
prior to reaching the location of the previously recorded fifth
letter cue signal, it is assumed that the user now operates
cue/erase button 30 to record a letter cue signal indicating the
end of revised letter "5". When the microprocessor next cycles
through the record routines (FIGS. 8A and 8B), the inquiry (FIG.
8B) of whether the cue button is on now is answered in the
affirmative. Since the cue stop flag had been set, the record
routine advances to reset this flag and then proceeds to point C
(FIG. 8C) where the inquiry of whether the instruction cue flag is
set is answered in the negative. It is assumed that the letter cue
flag is not set and, since the letter cue memory address now is
equal to the count of "4", the next-following inquiry of whether
this address is equal to nine is answered in the negative. However,
the next inquiry of whether the count of the cue counter exceeds
the count of the letter cue memory address is answered in the
affirmative. Hence, the shift flag is set.
Proceeding with the flow chart shown in FIG. 8C, since the present
count of the letter cue counter is equal to seven, the inquiry of
whether this count is equal to nine is answered in the negative.
Thus, the cue counter is incremented now to the count of eight.
Then, the tone flag is set, the tone timer is reset and the letter
cue flag is set. It is recalled that the setting of the tone flag
and the resetting of the tone timer effectuates the generation of a
warning tone for a one second duration to indicate the recording of
the letter cue signal. The record routine then advanceIs to point B
in FIG. 8B.
Commencing at point B, since a cue signal now is being recorded,
the cue generate routine is executed. It is recalled that, during
this routine, the cue timer is reset. Then, the inquiry of whether
the binary tape count is equal to the position count stored in that
location of the letter cue memory which presently is being
addressed (i.e. location "4") is answered in the negative. The next
inquiry of whether the binary tape count is equal to any stored
letter cue position count also is answered in the negative.
Proceeding with the flow chart of FIG. 8B, it is assumed that the
binary tape count is not equal to any stored instruction cue
position count and, since the tenth element of the bar graph
display is not energized, the record routine exits to the beginning
of the main loop.
As the letter cue signal is being recorded, the microprocessor
continues to cycle through the aforedescribed portion of the flow
chart shown in FIG. 8B until, ultimately, the cue timer times out,
that is, until the count of the cue timer reaches the count
corresponding to one second. At that time, when the record routine
advances to point A of the flow chart shown in FIG. 8B, the inquiry
of whether any cue flag is set is answered in the affirmative and,
likewise, the inquiry of whether the count of the cue timer is
equal to or greater than one second also is answered in the
affirmative. Then, the increment flag, which had not been set by
the flow chart shown in FIG. 8C because the count of the cue
counter exceeds the count of the letter cue memory address, is
nevertheless reset, and the inquiry of whether the cue address is
full (that is, whether the count of the letter cue address is equal
to "9") is answered in the negative. Then, since the shift flag is
set (it had been set by the operation of the flow chart of FIG.
8C), the next instruction is carried out to shift upward, by one
location, all letter cue position counts that are stored at those
locations which exceed the location now being addressed by the
letter cue memory address. In accordance with the presently
described numerical example, the letter cue position counts stored
at locations "5", "6" and "7" now are shifted upward into locations
"6", "7" and "8", respectively. Then, the letter cue memory address
is incremented from its present count of "4" to the count of "5";
and the binary tape count is loaded into addressed letter cue
memory location "5".
Once the count representing the location of this letter cue signal
is stored in the letter cue memory, the shift flag is reset and,
since the letter cue flag had been set, this flag now is reset too.
The inquiry of whether the instruction cue flag is set is answered
in the negative, and the cue timer is reset. The microprocessor
then advances to point B of the flow chart, and the remainder of
this flow chart is executed in the manner described above.
Thus, it is seen that, when a previously recorded letter is
shortened, the position count of the new letter cue signal is
inserted into the letter cue memory at a location occupied by the
position count corresponding to the previously-recorded letter cue
signal, and that position count, together with all position counts
at higher letter cue memory locations are shifted upward. Stated
otherwise, the new position count is inserted into the storage
location vacated by the previously-recorded position count which is
shifted upward by one location in the letter cue memory.
It will be appreciated that a similar shifting operation is carried
out in the event that letter "5" is lengthened beyond its previous
length. That is, as the revision of letter "5" continues, when the
location of the fifth letter cue signal is reached, the position
count stored in location "5" of the letter cue memory is discarded,
and the position counts stored at locations "6" and "7" are shifted
down into locations "5" and "6", respectively, as has been
described above. Then, when a letter cue signal is recorded to
indicate the end of the revised letter "5", the position counts now
stored at locations "5" and "6" are shifted upward into locations
"6" and "7", respectively, and the binary tape count present at the
time that the cue timer times out is shifted into vacated location
"5", in the manner described above.
If, prior to reaching the second instruction cue signal recorded on
the tape, the user operates cue/erase button 30 to record another
instruction cue signal, a similar shifting operation is carried out
in the instruction cue memory. Assuming that the microprocessor
cycles through the record routine, and that the record flag is set,
this routine advances to point "A" (FIG. 8B) and the inquiry of
whether a cue flag is set is answered in the negative. Since an
instruction cue signal is in the process of being recorded, the
inquiry of whether the cue button is on now is answered in the
affirmative. The cue stop flag had been set and, proceeding with
the flow chart, this flag now is reset and the record routine
advances to point C of FIG. 8C.
The inquiry of whether the instruction cue flag is set is answered
in the negative and, similarly, the inquiry of whether the letter
cue flag is set also is answered in the negative. It is assumed
that the cue memory address is less than "9", and it is further
assumed that the count of the cue counter exceeds the count of the
cue memory address. Hence, the shift flag is set and, assuming that
the count of the cue counter is less than "9", this count is
incremented. Accordingly, and as described above, the tone flag is
set, the tone timer is reset and the letter cue flag is set. The
record routine then advances to point B (FIG. 8B).
The inquiry of whether a cue signal is being recorded is answered
in the affirmative and the microprocessor advances to the cue
generate routine. Assuming that the binary tape count is not equal
to the position count stored in the addressed location of the cue
memory, and that this binary tape count is not equal to any stored
letter or instruction cue position signal, the record routine
merely continues and returns to the beginning of the main loop.
On succeeding cycles of the microprocessor through the record
routine, the flow chart shown in FIG. 8B is carried out, commencing
with point A, by which the inquiry of whether any cue flag is set
is answered in the affirmative, the inquiry of whether the cue
timer has timed out is answered in the negative, the inquiry of
whether the cue button is on is answered in the affirmative and the
inquiry of whether the cue stop flag is set is answered in the
negative. The record routine thus arrives at point B, and the
remainder of the flow chart shown in FIG. 8B is repeated in the
manner described above.
It is recalled that, in order to record an instruction cue signal,
the cue/erase button must be released prior to the time that the
cue timer times out, and then this cue button must be re-operated.
When the microprocessor next cycles through the record routine, let
it be assumed that the cue button has been released. Hence, as
shown in FIG. 8B, the inquiry of whether the cue button is on is
answered in the negative, and the cue stop flag now is set. When
the cue button is re-operated, the next cycle of the record routine
following that re-operation answers the inquiry of whether a cue
flag is set in the affirmative, whether the cue timer has timed out
in the negative, whether the cue button is on in the affirmative
and whether the cue stop flag is set in the affirmative. Hence, the
cue stop flag is reset and the record routine advances to point C
(FIG. 8C). Since the instruction cue flag is not set but the letter
cue flag is, inquiry is made as to whether the increment flag is
set. From the preceding discussion, it is recalled that this flag
is not set and, thus, the shift flag is reset, and the record
routine advances to inquire if the instruction cue memory address
is equal to "9". In accordance with the present example, this
inquiry is answered in the negative. The next-following inquiry of
whether the instruction counter exceeds the count of the
instruction cue memory address is answered in the affirmative
because it has been assumed that the present count of the
instruction cue memory address is equal to "1" and the present
count of the instruction cue counter is equal to "3". Thus, all
position counts at locations in the instruction cue memory which
exceed the location now being addressed are shifted upward by one
location. That is, the position counts stored in locations "2" and
"3" in the instruction cue memory are shifted upward into locations
"3" and "4", respectively, thus vacating location "2". Then, the
instruction cue memory address is incremented to the count of "2"
and, since the count of the instruction cue counter has been
assumed to be less than "9", it is incremented from its count of
"3" to the count of "4". Next, the cue memory address is set equal
to the instruction cue memory address, the instruction cue flag is
set and the tone counter is set to the count of one. It is recalled
that this, in turn, allows a second warning tone signal to be
produced thus indicating the recording of an instruction cue
signal.
Next, the record routine returns to point B of FIG. 8B, and the
remainder of this flow chart is repeated in the manner discussed
above. Until the cue timer times out, the flow chart shown in FIG.
8B is executed each time the microprocessor cycles through the
record routine. Ultimately, when this flow chart is carried out,
the inquiry of whether the cue timer has timed out is answered in
the affirmative. At that time the increment flag, although not set,
is reset, and the inquiry of whether the cue memory address is full
is answered in the negative. The next inquiry of whether the shift
flag is set also is answered in the negative (it had been reset
during the last cycle through the flow chart shown in FIG. 8C) and
the record routine advances to load the binary tape count into
location "2" of the instruction cue memory, which location now is
being addressed by the instruction cue memory address. Then, the
shift flag is reset (it had not been set) and, since the letter cue
flag still is set, it now is reset. The inquiry of whether the
instruction cue flag is set is answered in the affirmative and,
thus, all cue flags (including this instruction cue flag) are
reset. The remainder of the flow chart shown in FIG. 8B then is
executed in the manner that has been described previously.
Thus, it is seen that, when a letter or instruction cue signal is
inserted between two previously recorded letter or instruction cue
signals, the position count corresponding to the inserted cue
signal is similarly inserted into the proper position of the cue
memory. If the previously recorded cue signal is not "overwritten"
by new information, the position counts of those previously
recorded cue signals are retained in the cue memory for display and
for controlling the rewind and fast forward movement of the tape,
as during the cue pause routine discussed above.
In the numerical examples described above, it will be appreciated
that the position counts of up to nine letter cue signals and the
position counts of up to nine instruction cue signals may be stored
in the letter and instruction cue memories, respectively. Of
course, a greater number of cue signals may be recorded, but the
position counts of such additional cue signals are not stored. If
desired, any greater or lesser number of position counts may be
stored in the cue memory.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be
readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that
various changes and modifications in form and details may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For
example, in the tone and timer update routine, the primary timer
may be omitted and the respective timers may be incremented during
each cycle of the microprocessor through this routine. Also,
although particular numerical examples have been described above,
such as the duration of the respective tones which are generated,
the duration during which the cue button should be operated
repeatedly in order to record an "instruction" signal, the duration
of a pause, the capacities of the cue memory for storing position
counts, the number of letter and instruction cue counts that may be
accumulated, and the like, other suitable time durations and
quantities can be used. Furthermore, the foregoing description has
provided specific examples of only some of the operations which may
be controlled and initiated by the user of the device. It will be
seen from the accompanying flow charts that other operations may be
controlled, such as when the user operates the fast forward button
and then, subsequently, operates the rewind/play button while
releasing the fast forward button. The foregoing description has
assumed typical use of the device. Also, it will be recognized that
the sequence of instructions in the respective routines may be
altered, as desired. Still further, although the device, in its
preferred form, operates as a record/playback device, such as a
dictate machine, it also may be used merely as a playback device
and, therefore, the record buttons may be omitted.
It is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as including
the foregoing as well as other various changes.
* * * * *